U.S. patent application number 11/487159 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-01 for modular wall-display system for decorative fixtures.
Invention is credited to Eduard File, Brian Graves.
Application Number | 20070023373 11/487159 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37693143 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070023373 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Graves; Brian ; et
al. |
February 1, 2007 |
Modular wall-display system for decorative fixtures
Abstract
Disclosed is a modular display system that can be used to
display decorative fixtures, such as curtain rods, on a wall. The
system can be used to display one or more items in adjacent,
vertical positions on a wall. The system is adapted to permit quick
and easy replacement of the display items on the display board and
to also permit the items to be re-arranged on the display board
quickly and easily.
Inventors: |
Graves; Brian; (San Diego,
CA) ; File; Eduard; (Santee, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & RICHARDSON, PC
P.O. BOX 1022
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55440-1022
US
|
Family ID: |
37693143 |
Appl. No.: |
11/487159 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60699622 |
Jul 15, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/85.26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47H 2023/003 20130101;
A47H 2001/006 20130101; A47H 1/02 20130101; A47F 7/0028
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/085.26 |
International
Class: |
A47G 29/00 20060101
A47G029/00 |
Claims
1. A modular display system for decorative fixtures, comprising: at
least one display board; at least one decorative fixture fixedly
mounted on a front face of the display board; and at least one wall
mounting member configured to be attached to a wall, wherein the
mounting member is configured to be removably attached to the
display board whereby a plurality of display boards can be
modularly supported on a wall in a predetermined orientation.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one wall mounting
member comprises an elongate channel adapted to mate with at least
a portion of the display board such that the channel can support
the display board in a suspended state when the channel is attached
to a wall.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the display board includes a
display mounting member located on a rear face of the display
board.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the display mounting member and
the wall mounting member comprise u-shaped channels that slidingly
mate with one another.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein the display mounting member and
the wall mounting member collectively form a frame, and wherein the
display board is sized to completely cover the frame when the frame
is attached to a wall.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the wall mounting member is an
elongate structure.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the wall mounting member is
positioned along a vertical axis when attached to a wall.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wall mounting member is
positioned along a horizontal axis when attached to a wall.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the decorative fixture comprises
a curtain rod assembly that includes a curtain rod and a pair of
finials.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the mounting member is
configured to be removably attached to the display board such that
a plurality of display boards can be modularly supported in a
vertically-stacked arrangement on a wall.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the mounting member is
configured to be removably attached to the display board such that
a plurality of display boards can be modularly supported in a
horizontally-stacked arrangement on a wall.
Description
REFERENCE TO PRIORITY DOCUMENTS
[0001] This application claims priority of co-pending U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/699,622 entitled
"Modular Wall-Display System for Decorative Fixtures", filed Jul.
15, 2005. Priority of the aforementioned filing date is hereby
claimed, and the disclosures of the Provisional Patent Application
is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to wall display devices
and, more particularly, to a modular mount for displaying
decorative fixtures on a wall, such as in a retail environment.
[0003] Decorative fixtures, such as drapery hardware and bathroom
hardware, are often displayed in retail environments, such as in a
showroom, for perusal by consumers. The decorative fixtures can be,
for example, drapery mounting hardware (such as an elongate rod
mounted between two finials) or bathroom hardware for hanging
towels. The type of decorative fixture can vary widely from those
discussed above.
[0004] The decorative fixtures are typically mounted in groups of
two or more on a single board or panel that hangs on a wall to form
a wall display. FIG. 1 shows an exemplary wall display 102 that
includes a single, unitary mounting board 105 on which are mounted
two or more decorative fixtures, such as drapery mounting hardware
110. The drapery mounting hardware can be a curtain rod assembly
that includes an elongate rod positioned in between a pair of
finials. The hardware 110 are mounted in a vertical configuration.
That is, one piece of hardware 110 is positioned above and/or below
an adjacent piece of hardware 110. In addition, the wall display
102 can include various indicia, such as specifications for each
piece of hardware 110.
[0005] It is generally desirable to include more than one item on
the wall display, such as to include items from a common family.
Multiple items can also be included on the wall display for
efficiency of space. However, it can also be desirable to change
one or more of the hardware items on the display while keeping the
other hardware items the same. Unfortunately, the decorative
fixtures (i.e., the hardware 110) are typically fixedly mounted on
the display board (such as using screws or glue.) Thus, it can take
a great amount of time in order to change one of the items, as the
item to be changed has to be removed from the display board using
hardware such as a screwdriver and/or wrench. Alternately, the
entire display can be replaced with a new display every time one of
the items on the display is changed. This is very inefficient.
SUMMARY
[0006] In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved
display device for decorative fixtures that permits quick and easy
replacement of one of the display items from a group of display
items. Disclosed is a modular display system that can be used to
display decorative fixtures, such as curtain rods, on a wall. The
system can be used to display one or more items in adjacent,
vertical positions on a wall. The system is adapted to permit quick
and easy replacement of the display items on the display board and
to also permit the items to be re-arranged on the display board
quickly and easily.
[0007] In one aspect, there is disclosed a modular display system
for decorative fixtures, comprising: at least one display board; at
least one decorative fixture fixedly mounted on a front face of the
display board; and at least one wall mounting member configured to
be attached to a wall, wherein the mounting member is configured to
be removably attached to the display board whereby a plurality of
display boards can be modularly supported on a wall in a
predetermined orientation.
[0008] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the
accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and
advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and
from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a front, plan view of a conventional display
board on which is mounted a plurality of decorative fixtures.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a modular display
system.
[0011] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a wall mounting
member and a display mounting member of the modular display system
coupled to one another.
[0012] FIG. 4 shows the display boards being coupled to the wall
frame.
[0013] FIG. 5 shows a rear, perspective view of the modular display
system with three display boards.
[0014] FIG. 6 shows a front view of the modular display system with
three display boards.
[0015] FIGS. 7A and 7B show a perspective views of an alternative
embodiment of the modular display system.
[0016] FIGS. 8A and 8B show perspective views of an alternative
embodiment of the modular display system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Disclosed is a modular display system that can be used to
display decorative fixtures on a wall. The system can be used to
display one or more items in adjacent, vertical positions on a
wall. As described below, the system permits quick and easy
replacement of the display items on the display board and also
permits the items to be re-arranged quickly and easily.
[0018] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the modular display system
200, which includes a wall frame 205 and one or more display boards
210 that can be removably coupled to the wall frame 205, as
described in detail below. The wall frame 205 is configured to be
attached to a wall using any attachment means, such as screws,
bolts, glue, etc. At least one decorative fixture, such as a
curtain rod assembly, is mounted on a front side of each of the
display boards. In one embodiment, the decorative fixture is
attached to the display board, such as by using bolts, screws,
glue, etc. The decorative fixture can be attached in a manner that
makes it difficult to remove the fixture from the board. In another
embodiment, the decorative fixture is attached to the display board
in such a manner that the display board must be warped, damaged, or
destroyed in order to remove the decorative fixture from the
display board.
[0019] With reference still to FIG. 2, the wall frame 205 includes
one or more vertically-extending wall mounting members 215 that are
configured to be coupled to corresponding display mounting members
220 that are positioned on rear sides of the display boards 210. In
the illustrated embodiment, the display mounting members 220 are
vertically-extending members on the display boards 210, although
the shapes of the display mounting members 220 can vary. The wall
mounting members 215 and display mounting members 220 have a
structural configuration that permits the display mounting members
220 and wall mounting members 215 to be removably coupled to one
another. In the illustrated embodiment, the wall mounting members
215 are interlinked by various cross-bars 225 to form the wall
frame 205. However, it should be appreciated that the wall mounting
members 215 need not be part of a frame 205, but can rather be
independently mounted on a wall.
[0020] Each of the display boards 210 has a front surface on which
can be mounted one or more pieces of decorative hardware. Each
display board 210 also has a rear surface on which is located one
or more vertically-extending display members 220, which couple to
the wall members 215.
[0021] As mentioned, the wall mounting members 215 and display
mounting members 220 have a structural configuration that permits
the display mounting members 220 and wall mounting members 215 to
be removably coupled to one another. In this regard, the mounting
members 215, 220 can have a structure that permits the members to
be coupled to one another in a sliding fashion. Some exemplary
structures are described herein, although it should be appreciated
that the coupling structures of the members can vary.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the wall mounting
member 215 and the display mounting member 220 coupled to one
another. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the mounting
members 215, 220 are elongated channels that have complementary,
u-shaped structures that slidably mate with one another along the
axis of the mounting members. This permits the display mounting
member 220 to slidably mate along a substantially vertical axis
upward or downward with the wall mounting member 215. It should be
appreciated that the mounting members can have various other
structural configurations that permit removable coupling of the
display mounting members and wall mounting members.
[0023] FIG. 4 shows the display boards 210 being coupled to the
wall mounting members 215. Specifically, two display boards 210 are
already coupled to the wall mounting members 215 and a third
display board 210a is prepared to be coupled to the wall mounting
members 215. It should be appreciated that the wall mounting
members 215 are secured to a wall, such as by using screws, bolts,
glue, or any other attachment means. Prior to attaching the display
board 210a to the wall mounting members 215, the display board 210a
is positioned relative to the wall mounting members 215 such that
each display mounting members 220 is co-axially aligned with a
corresponding wall mounting member 215. That is, the display
mounting members 220 are lined up with the wall mounting members
215. The display mounting members 220 are then coupled to the wall
mounting members 215 in a sliding fashion, such as by sliding the
display mounting members 220 downward onto the wall mounting
members 215.
[0024] FIG. 5 shows a rear, perspective view of the three display
boards 210 coupled to the wall mounting members 215 to form the
modular display system 200. FIG. 6 shows a front view of the
modular display system 200 with three display boards. The system
200 is shown with three display boards 210, although it should be
appreciated that any quantity of display boards can be used. In
this regard, the length of the wall mounting members 215 can be
selected to accommodate any quantity of display boards 210.
Moreover, the wall mounting members 215 can be positioned along a
horizontal axis rather than a vertical axis such that the display
boards 210 are positioned in a row rather than in a column. The
wall mounting members 215 can also be positioned along an inclined
axis.
[0025] In one embodiment, the display boards 210 are sufficiently
large and of sufficient shape such that the boards 210 mask the
frame 205 from view when the modular display system 200 is viewed
from the front (as shown in FIG. 6). This provides a clean look to
the modular display system 200. Alternately, at least a portion of
the wall mounting members or display mounting members can be
visible. Moreover, the display boards 210 can have a finish that
provides a seamless appearance between the multiple display boards
so that that the multiple display boards appear to be a single
display board.
[0026] The modular display system 200 provides a quick and easy
method of displaying multiple decorative fixtures in a single
display. If one or more of the fixtures needs to be removed or
switched with another fixture, the display board 210 to which the
fixture is attached is simply slid off of the wall mounting members
and replaced with another display board. There is no need to
replace the entire display.
[0027] FIGS. 7A and 7B show a perspective views of an alternative
embodiment of the modular display system. In the embodiment of
FIGS. 7A and 7B, the wall mounting members 215 couple directly to
the display board 210 rather than to display mounting members 220.
Thus, the system does not require display mounting members 220. The
wall mounting members 215 have a structural configuration that is
configured to receive and support at least a portion of the display
board 210. In the illustrated embodiment, the wall mounting member
215 comprises an elongated, unshaped channel that is sized to
slidingly receive a vertically-extending edge of the display board
210. A wall mounting member is located on both opposed edges of the
display board, as shown in FIG. 7A.
[0028] The wall mounting members 215 are attached directly to a
wall such that they support one or more display boards 210 on the
wall with the display boards 210 being positioned in a
vertically-stacked orientation. In the embodiment of FIGS. 7A and
7B, when the display system is mounted on the wall, the wall
mounting members 215 are visible from the front of the display
board 210.
[0029] FIGS. 8A and 8B show perspective views of an alternative
embodiment of the modular display system. For each display board
210, the system includes a wall mounting member 215 that couples to
a corresponding display mounting member 220 positioned on a rear
side of the display board 210. The wall mounting members 215 are
mounted on a wall in relative positions such that the display
mounting members 220 and attached display boards can be relatively
positioned in a desired orientation, such as in a stacked, vertical
orientation, as shown in FIG. 8B.
[0030] In one embodiment, the wall mounting member 215 comprises
upwardly-open, u-shaped channel. The display mounting member 220
comprises a complementary-shaped, downwardly-open, u-shaped channel
that mates with the wall mounting member 215. The display mounting
members 220 are coupled to the wall mounting members 215 by sliding
the display mounting members 220 onto the wall mounting members
215, or by simply lowering the display mounting members 220 over
the wall mounting members 215. As in the previous embodiments, it
should be appreciated that the structural configuration and the
coupling methods for the mounting members can vary and are not
limited to the examples shown and described herein.
[0031] Although embodiments of various methods and devices are
described herein in detail with reference to certain versions, it
should be appreciated that other versions, embodiments, methods of
use, and combinations thereof are also possible. Therefore the
spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to
the description of the embodiments contained herein.
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