U.S. patent application number 11/546848 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-17 for watch display and storage cabinet.
Invention is credited to Michael J. Lerman.
Application Number | 20080088210 11/546848 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39302473 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080088210 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lerman; Michael J. |
April 17, 2008 |
Watch display and storage cabinet
Abstract
A cabinet having a hinged, see-through door for viewing
wristwatches strapped around individual shelves which are rotatable
forwardly and rearwardly to permit an easy strapping onto the shelf
for display, and an easy removal for wearing.
Inventors: |
Lerman; Michael J.;
(Jackson, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles I. Brodsky
2 Bucks Lane
Marlboro
NJ
07746
US
|
Family ID: |
39302473 |
Appl. No.: |
11/546848 |
Filed: |
October 13, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/139.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 7/022 20130101;
A47F 3/004 20130101; A47F 3/001 20130101; A47F 3/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/139.1 |
International
Class: |
A47F 3/00 20060101
A47F003/00 |
Claims
1. A wristwatch display encasement comprising: a cabinet having
enclosed top, bottom and rear walls, and a pair of side walls; a
see-through door hinged to a front of said cabinet for respectively
closing and opening said cabinet; and at least one horizontally
aligned shelf within said cabinet, hinged at a first end to an
inside surface of one of said pair of side walls to rotate
forwardly away from and rearwardly towards, an initial quiescent
placement; with said shelf being of a length less than the width of
said cabinet between said side walls and of a height and depth to
align vertically the dial of a wristwatch strapped thereabout.
2. The wristwatch display encasement of claim 1 wherein said shelf
is of a height greater than its depth.
3. The wristwatch display encasement of claim 1, including means
along an inside surface of said top wall for illuminating the
cabinet when said see-through door is closed.
4. The wristwatch display encasement of claim 1, including a
pull-out drawer extending forwardly away from said rear cabinet
wall between said side walls at a location above said bottom
wall.
5. The wristwatch display encasement of claim 4, including an
additional shelf above said pull-out drawer extending substantially
the width and depth of the cabinet.
6. The wristwatch display encasement of claim 1, including a
plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally aligned shelves within
said cabinet, each hinged at a first end to an inside surface of
one of said pair of side walls to rotate forwardly away from, and
rearwardly towards, an initial quiescent placement, and with each
of said shelves being of a length less than the width of said
cabinet between said side walls, and of a height and depth to align
vertically the dial of wristwatches strapped thereabout.
7. The wristwatch display encasement of claim 6, including means
along an inside surface of said top wall for illuminating the
cabinet when said see-through door is closed.
8. The wristwatch display encasement of claim 7, including a
pull-out drawer extending forwardly away from said rear cabinet
wall between said side walls at a location above said bottom wall,
and an additional shelf above said pull-out drawer extending
substantially the width and depth of the cabinet.
9. A wristwatch display encasement comprising: a first cabinet
having enclosed top, bottom and rear walls, and a pair of side
walls; a first see-through door hinged to a front of said first
cabinet for respectively closing and opening said first cabinet;
and at least one horizontally aligned shelf within said first
cabinet hinged at a first end to an inside surface of one of said
pair of side walls to rotate forwardly away from, and rearwardly
towards, an initial quiescent placement; with said shelf being of a
length less than the width of said first cabinet between said side
walls thereof, and of a height and depth to align vertically the
dial of a wristwatch strapped thereabout; a second cabinet having
enclosed top, bottom and rear walls, and a pair of side walls; a
second see-through door hinged to a front of said second cabinet
for respectively closing and opening said second cabinet; and at
least one horizontally aligned shelf within said second cabinet
hinged at a first end to an inside surface of one of said pair of
side walls of said second cabinet to rotate forwardly away from,
and rearwardly towards, an initial quiescent placement; with said
shelf of said second cabinet being of a length less than the width
of said second cabinet between said side walls thereof, and of a
height and depth to align vertically the dial of a wristwatch
strapped thereabout; and a third cabinet having enclosed top,
bottom and rear walls, and a pair of side walls; a third
see-through door hinged to a front of said third cabinet for
respectively closing and opening said third cabinet; and at least
one horizontally aligned shelf within said third cabinet hinged at
a first end to an inside surface of one of said pair of side walls
of said third cabinet to rotate forwardly away from, and rearwardly
towards, an initial quiescent placement; with said shelf of said
third cabinet being of a length less than the width of said third
cabinet between said side walls thereof, and of a height and depth
to align vertically the dial of a wristwatch strapped thereabout;
with said first and second cabinets being joined together at
adjacent side walls thereof, and with said second and third
cabinets being joined together at adjacent side walls thereof.
10. The wristwatch display encasement of claim 9, wherein each
horizontally aligned shelf is of a height greater than its
depth.
11. The wristwatch display encasement of claim 1, wherein said
first and third cabinets are of the same height between the top and
bottom walls thereof.
12. The wristwatch display encasement of claim 11, including the
means along an inside surface of said top wall of each of said
first, second and third cabinets for illuminating each such cabinet
when its respective see-through door is closed.
13. The wristwatch display encasement of claim 12, with each
cabinet including a pull-out drawer extending forwardly away from
the rear cabinet wall thereof between their respective side walls
at a location above their respective bottom walls.
14. The wristwatch display encasement of claim 13, with each
cabinet including a further shelf above their respective pull-out
drawers extending substantial i-y the width and depth of each said
cabinet.
15. The wristwatch display encasement of claim 12, including first
and second pull-out drawers below the bottom wall of said first,
second and third cabinets, with said first pull-out. drawer
extending below the bottom wall of said first cabinet and a first
half of the bottom wall of said second cabinet, and with said
second pull-out drawer extending below the bottom wall of said
third cabinet and a second half of the bottom wall of said second
cabinet.
16. The wristwatch display encasement of claim 1, including at
least one wristwatch coupled onto each horizontally aligned shelf
within said cabinet.
17. The wristwatch display encasement of claim 9, including at
least one wristwatch coupled onto each horizontally aligned shelf
within said first cabinet, said second cabinet and said third
cabinet.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] None.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Research and development of this invention and Application
have not been federally sponsored, and no rights are given under
any Federal program.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] This invention relates to the storage of watches, in
general, and to a cabinet for the display and storage of premier
timepieces, every-day priced watches, and just about any type of
watch collection in-between, in particular.
[0006] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0007] As has been reported in Robb Report magazine, the latest
complicated timepieces from the established Swiss brands stand like
distinguished older gentlemen among divas--the dazzling, glamorous,
diamond and gem laden ladies' watches.
[0008] More specifically, jewelry watches have emerged in force,
from exquisite high jewelry treatments of classic models to
creative designs with brightly colored accents. Diamonds are now
found to embellish everything from dials to bezels, to bracelets,
often with varying degrees of flash. Unlikely combinations of
diamonds with steel, rubber straps, or even plastic straps today
defy traditional styling. Healthy doses of color have been injected
into jewelry watches, and several brands have introduced
vintage-inspired miniature sizes.
[0009] As additionally reported, a new generation of perpetual
calendars is booming the popularity of mechanical watches, and
multiple functions are popular again--with perpetual cabinets being
combined with minute repeaters and moon phase indicators. Spiffy
diver's watches are the latest status symbols, as technical marvels
continue to be introduced.
[0010] The one thing that all these new high-end men's mechanicals
and chronographs have in common is their sophisticated, gentlemanly
looks. Dials are tone-on-tone, with subtle markers and smaller
sub-dials. With a growing number of mechanical watches being
designed for women (as movements become smaller and more refined
with few components), it has been written that equal opportunity is
now making its mark even in the world of complicated
timepieces.
[0011] As will therefore be appreciated, just storing wristwatches
of these characters and craftsmanship in a typical
compartmentalized watch case is inadequate at the least, and
insulting at best. Keeping the compartmentalized watch case on a
dresser, or in a drawer for that matter, clearly detracts from the
image associated with the owner of these timepieces whose prices
typically can run into 6 figures.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0012] It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to
provide a wristwatch display and storage cabinet which an owner of
a premier or other timepiece can be proud of.
[0013] It is another object of the invention to provide such a
display and storage cabinet in which the timepiece can be easily
inserted, displayed, automatically kept running and stored, and
then removed for wearing.
[0014] It is an object of the invention, also, to provide such a
display and storage cabinet which also allows for the showing off
of other fine jewelry at the same time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] As will become clear from the following description, the
wristwatch display encasement of the present invention includes a
cabinet having enclosed top, bottom and rear walls, and a pair of
side walls; a see-through door hinged to a front of the cabinet for
respectively closing and opening the cabinet; and at least one
horizontally aligned shelf within the cabinet, hinged at a first
end to an inside surface of one of the pair of side walls to rotate
forwardly away from, and rearwardly towards, an initial quiescent
placement. In accordance with the invention, the shelf is of a
length less than the width of the cabinet between the side walls,
and of a height and depth to align vertically the dial or face of a
wristwatch strapped thereabout. In a preferred embodiment, means
are included along an inside surface of the top wall for
illuminating the cabinet when the see-through door is closed to
highlight the dial-face display. With the shelf being of a height
greater than its depth, the opposing ends of the wristwatch strap
can be displayed and illuminated as well.
[0016] Recognizing that several wristwatches might wish to be
displayed and illuminated at the same time, a further embodiment of
the invention includes a plurality of these horizontally aligned
shelves, vertically spaced from one another. Where the timepiece
collection is greater than can be displayed on these shelves, the
invention envisions the further inclusion of a pull-out drawer
which extends forwardly away from the rear cabinet wall at a
location above the cabinet bottom. Realizing that space still may
not be sufficient --and that other pieces of jewelry might wished
to be displayed and illuminated at the same time, one embodiment of
the invention also includes an additional shelf above the pull-out
drawer, extending substantially the width and depth of the cabinet
on which such items may be laid.
[0017] As will be understood, a display encasement of this type can
be free standing or, alternatively, can be hung on a wall for easy
viewing. Additionally, two, three or more encasements can be joined
together, as for displaying masculine and feminine wristwatches
separately or simply to display and illuminate larger collections.
In one further embodiment, three such encasements are joined
together, with the middle one of the three being of greater height,
but with fewer shelves, although having more drawers. As will be
readily understood, such a configuration is in accordance with the
teachings of the invention, but presented differently for purposes
of aesthetic decoration.
[0018] And, although the emphasis of the previous discussion has
revolved about the display and storage of the premier, expensive,
timepieces, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the
described constructions apply equally as well to the presentation
of every-day worn watches no matter their price, and to whatever
types of collection of watches an owner may have.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0019] These and other features of the invention will be more
clearly understood from a consideration of the following
description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a 3-cabinet wristwatch display encasement
constructed in accordance with the invention in which the left and
center cabinets, and center and right cabinets are joined together
at their adjacent side walls;
[0021] FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are views helpful in an understanding of
the left, center and right cabinets in their opened positions,
helpful in understanding of the different embodiments of the
invention;
[0022] FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c are front, top and side views of the
cabinet shelves on which a displayed watch may be strapped, with
rear and bottom views being mirror images of their respective front
and top views; and
[0023] FIG. 6 is helpful in an understanding of the forward and
rearward rotations of the horizontal shelves to permit an easy
strapping of a watch onto the shelf for display, and an easy
removal therefrom for wearing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The wristwatch display encasement of FIGS. 1-4 is composed,
first of all, of 3 cabinets each having top, bottom and rear walls,
a pair of side walls, and a see-through door 15 hinged to a front
of the cabinet as at 17 for respectively closing and opening the
cabinet. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the
cabinet 10 includes 2 horizontally aligned shelves 20, 22, each of
a length less than the width of the cabinet 10 between its side
walls. Similarly, the right cabinet 14 includes 2 horizontally
aligned shelves 24, 26, also with each being of a length less than
the width of the cabinet 14 (FIG. 4).
[0025] In the embodiment of FIG. 3, on the other hand, the center
cabinet 12 includes only one horizontally aligned shelf 28,
likewise of a length less than the width of the cabinet 12. As will
be understood by the skilled artisan from a reading of this
description, the numbers of these shelves can be intermixed in any
manner, extending from just having one horizontally aligned shelf
to 2, 3, 4, etc. shelves, each vertically displaced an amount
depending upon the ultimate height selected for the cabinet, and as
a function of the number of watches to be displayed on each
shelf.
[0026] Each of the cabinets 10, 12, 14 is provided with an
appropriate manner of illumination for the cabinet, as illustrated
at 30, constructed in any desired manner so as to illuminate the
inside of the display when the see-through door 15 is closed.
Although a bulb may be employed in this respect, a plastic encased
rope-lighting which extends along the inside surface of the top
wall may be utilized, or one which extends both horizontally and
vertically along the inside surface of the front wall or rear wall
of the cabinet. As it is the intent of the present invention to
display the dial of a wristwatch substantially vertically when it
is strapped around the shelf, each shelf is selected of a height
100 greater than its depth 102 as illustrated by the views of FIGS.
5a-5c, the shelf length 104 once again being less than the width of
the respective cabinet. A hinge 32 of a type illustrated in FIG. 6,
for example, is included at an inside surface of one of the pair of
side walls for each cabinet to couple to the shelf or shelves in
allowing them to rotate forwardly away from and rearwardly towards
an initial quiescent placement in the closed cabinet as illustrated
in each of the respective drawings. Such shelf, when rotated
forwardly, preferably permits a shelf rotation out towards the
front of the cabinet with its door opened in allowing any or all of
the watches 50 to be unstrapped from the shelf for removal and
subsequent wearing; or, when rotated rearwardly, a storage and
display of the strapped watch when the shelf is rotated back to the
quiescent placement. The left and right see-through cabinets 10 and
14 also include a pull-out drawer 60 for storage of other watches
and jewelry accessories, and/or instruction manuals for each
timepiece.
[0027] As will be evident, the drawers 60 are arranged to extend.
forwardly away from the rear cabinet wall, at a location above the
bottom wall, and between the side walls. Recognizing that it might
also be desirable to display bracelets and/or other items of
jewelry and/or other watches, an additional shelf 62 is included
above the drawers 60 in extending substantially the width and depth
of each cabinet. The center cabinet 12, on the other hand, shows 3
such pull-out drawers 64, with its own additional shelf 66. The
3-cabinet embodiment of FIG. 1 shows yet a further arrangement in
which two more pull-out drawers 68 are utilized, below the bottom
wall of the cabinets 10, 12 and 14, one of which extends below the
bottom wall of the left cabinet 10 and half the center cabinet 12,
and with the other extending below the bottom wall of the right
cabinet 14 and the second half of the center cabinet 12.
[0028] As will be understood, the left and right cabinets 10 and 14
of FIG. 1 are of substantially the same height between their top
and bottom walls, and the center cabinet 12 is of a greater height.
It will be appreciated that this is just a matter of design choice,
as are the number of shelves to be included in each cabinet, the
number of pull-out drawers there employed, and the manner of
hinging or otherwise controlling the opening and closing of the
cabinet doors. Each arrangement, however, will be seen to be
inclusive of the teachings of the invention of providing a
wristwatch or timepiece display encasement having a hinged,
see-through door for viewing the wristwatches or timepieces
strapped around the individual shelves, with the shelves being each
rotatable forwardly and rearwardly to permit an easy strapping onto
the shelf for display, and an easy removal for wearing. With each
cabinet depth of some 10 inches, for example, with the left and
right cabinets 10, 14 being of a height of some 32 inches, and with
the center cabinet 12 of a height of 36 inches, the embodiment of
FIG. 1 is configured to easily contain upwards of 75 watches and
timepieces.
[0029] Low voltage lighting can be used throughout, and the
see-through doors may be made double strength where desired, with
any type handle 70 for opening the cabinet doors. A width of 12
inches for each cabinet suffices to store and display such numbers
of timepieces.
[0030] While there have been described what are considered to be
preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be readily
appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be
made without departing from the scope of the teachings herein. For
example, whereas the present invention has been described in an
embodiment or embodiments where the drawers horizontally pull out,
changes can be made so that the drawers pull out at different
angles to enhance a selection of the watches or jewelry stored
therein for wearing. For at least such reason, therefore, resort
should be had to the claims appended hereto for a true
understanding of the invention.
* * * * *