Earring Display System

Abstract

A jewelry display system includes one or more jewelry display cards wherein each jewelry display card includes a first flat component, a second flat component projecting from a top edge of the first flat component; and a third flat component, projecting from a distal edge of the second flat component, wherein the third flat component includes at least one aperture or notch adapted to secure one or more pieces of jewelry, such that the jewelry may hang from a lip created by the second and third flat components.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/160,687, filed on Apr. 28, 2015 entitled "EARRING DISPLAY SYSTEM AND METHOD," the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

[0002] The technology disclosed herein relates to jewelry and, more particularly, some embodiments relate to systems and methods for displaying jewelry.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Jewelry has often been displayed in retail locations using display systems or packaging that include flat display cards. For example, earrings have generally been placed on or affixed to a flat surface and placed in a display case or rack. In some examples, the earrings may have been placed on a flat surface of a jewelry box or other packaging. This same display system has generally been used for all types of jewelry, regardless of dimensions of the jewelry. For example, stud earrings have been displayed in the same manner as hoop earrings, even though the hoop earrings, when worn, are intended to present a three dimensional look. Existing display systems, such as flat packaging or display cards, in which the displayed jewelry must be laid flat on the packaging or display surface, do not allow a consumer to observe the depth of the hoop earrings, or other three dimensional aspects of earrings. Moreover, existing display systems do not demonstrate they would appear when worn by the consumer (i.e., existing displays do not show what the jewelry looks like when it dangles freely).

[0004] Jewelry display systems may also be used to secure and organize jewelry, such that, e.g., individual pieces of jewelry do not get lost and are easily retrieved from a display case or storage room at a retail location. For example, jewelry boxes, or other container display systems may be used in this manner. Notably, systems that may enable a more natural, free dangling presentation of jewelry do not allow for the jewelry to be readily secured, or organized. In contrast, systems that allow jewelry to be readily organized and secured tend not to allow for a natural, free-dangling display of the jewelry.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS

[0005] According to various embodiments of the disclosed technology, the system for displaying jewelry may include a jewelry display card comprised of a first flat component, a second flat component, and a third flat component. The second and third flat components may project sufficiently far from the first flat component to allow jewelry (e.g., earrings) to hang down and freely dangle, such that a back surface of each earring freely clears (i.e., does not contact, or minimally contacts) a surface on the first flat component of the jewelry display card. The third flat component may include one or more apertures adapted to secure an earring.

[0006] According to another embodiment of the disclosed technology, the second flat component may project from a top edge of the first flat component and a third flat component may project from the distal edge of the second flat component, allowing for jewelry to hang from jewelry display card. In some examples, the jewelry may be an earring, a bracelet, a necklace, cufflinks, or other types jewelry as known in the art. In the case of displaying earrings or cufflinks, apertures may be used to secure the jewelry. In the case of displaying a necklace or a bracelet, notches may be cut into the third flat component to secure the jewelry. The distance between the third flat component and the first flat component may generally be sufficient to allow the necklace to hang from the third flat component, without ever touching the first flat component.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the disclosed technology, one or more jewelry display cards may be placed into a housing. The housing may contain slots configured to accept an end of the jewelry display cards, allowing the display cards to be held securely within the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] The technology disclosed herein, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The figures described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that the disclosed technology can be practiced with modification and alteration, and that the disclosed technology be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof. The figures are not drawn to scale.

[0009] FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an example jewelry display card, consistent with embodiments disclosed herein.

[0010] FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating an example jewelry display card, consistent with embodiments disclosed herein.

[0011] FIG. 1C is a diagram illustrating an example jewelry display card, consistent with embodiments disclosed herein.

[0012] FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating an example system for displaying jewelry, with embodiments disclosed herein.

[0013] FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a display card container, consistent with embodiments disclosed herein.

[0014] FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating a jewelry display card, consistent with embodiments disclosed herein.

[0015] While various embodiments of the disclosed technology have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the disclosed technology, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the disclosed technology. The disclosed technology is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but the desired features can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional, logical or physical partitioning and configurations can be implemented to implement the desired features of the technology disclosed herein. Also, a multitude of different constituent module names other than those depicted herein can be applied to the various partitions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0016] The technology disclosed herein is directed toward a system and method for providing a jewelry display system. According to various embodiments of the disclosed technology, a system for displaying jewelry includes a jewelry display card and a display card container, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. The jewelry display card 100 may include a first flat component 101, a second flat component 102 and a third flat component 103. The third flat component 103 may include at least one aperture 104 adapted to secure a piece of jewelry such as an earring. The second flat component 102 may extend perpendicularly from a top edge of a first flat component 101, and the third flat component may extend down from the second flat component, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The third flat component 103 may have one or more apertures 104 configured to accept a post from a piece of jewelry as illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C. For example, the jewelry piece may be an earring, and a post from the earring may be place in one of the apertures in the third flat component and the back of the earring may be placed on the opposite side of the third flat component to secure the earring to the jewelry display card. The second flat component 102 may extend sufficiently far from the first 101 flat component to allow a hoop earring to hang down and freely dangle, such that the back of the hoop earring can clear the base when the earring is perpendicular to the base. For example, the lip may extend at least 1/2 of the diameter of the hoop from the base. If the hoop earrings are 1 inch in diameter, the lip would then extend at least a half inch to allow proper clearance. It should be noted that, in some examples, there may be a desire for the hoop earrings (or other jewelry) to partially rest on flat component 101, such that a smaller lip size would be selected. In some embodiments, the jewelry display card 100 may include notches, as opposed to apertures, on either side of the third flat component (not shown) to accept, e.g., a necklace or bracelet, that may also hang from the jewelry display card.

[0017] In some examples, the bottom of the base may be weighted with plastic, cardboard, or metal components extending throughout the card to lower the card's center of gravity and counterbalance the earrings hanging from the jewelry display card. In some embodiments, the flat components 101, 102, and 103 may be constructed of treated fabric or composite material. For example, the flat components may be canvas, leather, or other fabric, but include a stiffening agent (such as glue or starch). A weight may be placed at the bottom, or within the base, to lower the base's center of gravity.

[0018] In some embodiments, the first flat component may be further fitted with an RFID tag, or other sensor as known in the art, to identify and track the jewelry affixed to the third flat component.

[0019] In some embodiments, the jewelry display cards may be different sizes. FIG. 1A illustrates a display card with lip size, FIG. 1B illustrates a display card with a second lip size, and FIG. 1C illustrates a display card with a third lip size. The different sized cards may be comingled in a single display system as to enable the storage or display of different sizes of jewelry (e.g., different sized hoop earrings may be stored or displayed using different sizes of display cards). Note that the actual dimensions of the display cards may vary, and the figures are not drawn to scale.

[0020] For example, in some embodiments the first flat component may have a width dimension between 4 and 8 inches and a height dimension between 1 and 4 inches, the second flat component may have a width dimension between 4 and 8 inches and a height dimension between 1 and 2 inches, and the third flat component has a width dimension between 4 and 8 inches and a height dimension between 1 and 2 inches.

[0021] In some examples, the first flat component may be fabricated using cardboard, plastic, metal, or thick paper. The first flat component may be heavier than the second and third flat component to securely hold the jewelry display card vertically, for example, on a display card rack when holding earrings and a necklace. For example, in some embodiments, the first flat component is two times thicker than the material of the second and third flat component. In some examples, the jewelry display card 100 includes a backing component, that is a rectangular card that is shaped to match the profile of the first flat component, and secures to the first flat component to hold the second and third flat components in place. For example, this cantilever and lip, created by the second and third flat component, may fold downward over a top edge and onto a back surface of the first flat component, and be secured to the first flat component with an adhesive. The backing component may then adhere to the first flat component, over the cantilever, to secure the cantilever in place, and add weight to the first flat component. In some examples, the backing is a paper backing, and may include a design, logo, text, barcode, label, or other printed identifying information. Likewise, the front of the first flat component, facing the jewelry, may also contain graphics, designs, text, labels, or other printed information.

[0022] In some examples, the second and third flat components are fabricated from a composite material, metal, lightweight plastic, corrugated plastic, thickened fabric (e.g., canvas with a plastic, metal, wood, cardboard, or other lateral support beam extending from the base to hold the cantilever upright), or lightweight cardboard. The second and third flat components may be constructed from a single piece of material. In some examples, the apertures of the third flat component are reinforced. A support beam may be affixed under the second and third flat component extending from the first flat component to the third flat component to hold the cantilever and lip created by the second and third flat component respectively, in place. In some examples, the cantilever is extendable using a slide mechanism, or an accordion fold. In some examples, the first, second, and third components are part of the same flat card base, and are formed by folding the card base twice to create a lip.

[0023] Some embodiments of this disclosure are directed towards a display card container 200 as illustrated in FIG. 2B. In some embodiments, the container includes an outer container component 202. For example, the container may be a housing 203 and include a lid 201. The container may be constructed from a single piece, or multiple pieces of flat material such as cardboard, fabric, paper, plastic, wood, composite material, or metal.

[0024] An insert may be configured with a first flat component and a second flat component and a third flat component, similar to jewelry display card described above, as illustrated in FIG. 2C. In some embodiments, the first flat component may include a 90 degree fold on a bottom edge to support the base within the box as depicted in FIG. 2A. In some examples, one or more additional base components are coupled to the primary base component. The one or more additional base components extend vertically from the primary base component. Each additional base component may include a second flat component and a third flat component, substantially similar to the second and third flat components described above, and configured to hold jewelry (e.g., earrings, charms, broaches, cufflinks, necklaces, bracelets, etc.). Any jewelry with a post structure (earring, pin, cufflink, broach, etc.) may be secured through the one or more apertures in the third flat component. Each additional base component may also include an individual backing to add support to the structure and secure the second flat component in place.

[0025] In some examples, container 200 may include one or more notches on each side of the container configured to accept a jewelry display card as illustrated in FIG. 2A. For example, a jewelry display card may be inserted into the container with each edge of the jewelry display card being held in place by the notches on the sides of the container. As such, the jewelry display cards may be used interchangeably in the container, in lieu of the inserts described above.

[0026] Either the jewelry display card or display card container may be constructed using other materials and methods known in the art. Each may be constructed from single pieces of material, or from multiple pieces of material. The adhesives described herein may be substituted with other adhesives as known in the art.

[0027] While various embodiments of the disclosed technology have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the disclosed technology, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the technology. The disclosed technology is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but the desired features can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional, logical or physical partitioning and configurations can be implemented to implement the desired features of the disclosed technology. Also, a multitude of different constituent module names other than those depicted herein can be applied to the various partitions. Additionally, with regard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and method claims, the order in which the steps are presented herein shall not mandate that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recited functionality in the same order unless the context dictates otherwise.

[0028] Although the disclosed technology is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosed technology, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the disclosed technology should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

[0029] Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term "including" should be read as meaning "including, without limitation" or the like; the term "example" is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms "a" or "an" should be read as meaning "at least one," "one or more" or the like; and adjectives such as "conventional," "traditional," "normal," "standard," "known" and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.

[0030] The presence of broadening words and phrases such as "one or more," "at least," "but not limited to" or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent.

Claims

1. A jewelry display card, comprising: a first flat component; a second flat component projecting from a top edge of the first flat component; and a third flat component, projecting from a distal edge of the second flat component, wherein the third flat component comprises at least one aperture adapted to secure an earring.

2. The jewelry display card of claim 1, wherein the first flat component, the second flat component, and the third flat component each comprise a material selected from the group consisting of paper, cardboard, plastic, fabric, and metal.

3. The jewelry display card of claim 2, wherein the jewelry display card is fabricated from a single piece of material, wherein the single piece of material is folded to form the first flat component, the second flat component, the third flat component.

4. The jewelry display card of claim 1, wherein each of the first flat component, the second flat component, and the third flat component is rectangular in shape.

5. The jewelry display card of claim 1, wherein the second flat component has a height dimension selected to form a gap between the third flat component and the first flat component sufficient to accommodate a hoop earring hanging from the third flat component, such that the hoop earring does not contact the first flat component when the hoop earring is positioned orthogonally with respect to the third flat component.

6. The jewelry display card of claim 1, wherein the first flat component has a width dimension between 4 and 8 inches and a height dimension between 1 and 4 inches.

7. The display card of claim 1, wherein the second flat component has a width dimension between 4 and 8 inches and a height dimension between 1 and 2 inches.

8. The jewelry display card of claim 1, wherein the third flat component has a width dimension between 4 and 8 inches and a height dimension between 1 and 2 inches

9. A system for displaying jewelry comprising: a display card container; a plurality of display card inserts, each display card insert comprising: a first flat component; a second flat component projecting from a top edge of the first flat component; and a third flat component, projecting from a distal edge of the second flat component, wherein the third flat component comprises at least one aperture adapted to secure an earring.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the display card container comprises an enclosure, the enclosure comprising a floor coupled to a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a back wall, and a front wall, wherein each of the floor, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall includes a slot shaped to accept one of the plurality of display card inserts, and wherein the lid is hingedly coupled to the back wall.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of display card inserts comprises a material selected from the group consisting of paper, cardboard, plastic, fabric, and metal.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of display card inserts is fabricated from a single piece of material folded to form the first flat component, the second flat component, the third flat component.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the first flat component, the second flat component, and the third flat component is rectangular in shape.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of display cards is configured to secure a pair of hoop earrings, a pair of cufflinks, a pin, or a broach.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of display cards is configured to secure a bracelet or a necklace.