Supports – Brackets – Specially mounted or attached
Reexamination Certificate
2003-01-24
2004-08-03
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Specially mounted or attached
C248S222510, C211S057100, C211S059100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06769656
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to brackets for supporting and displaying objects.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Retailers and product manufacturers are in the business of selling products, and to stay competitive, they must continually consider how products are perceived by customers. Although product fixtures by their very function typically serve a supporting role, they are a key component in creating customer perception. The function of product fixtures is to facilitate profitability by enhancing products while maximizing use of retail space. While retailers of lower end products may focus more on the retail space aspect and higher end retailers focus on enhancing the image of products and the retail store, both types of retailers use product fixtures to increase sales.
A poorly designed, manufactured, installed or maintained fixture can destroy an otherwise positive product image. A product fixture should focus attention on the product and never call attention to itself by wobbling or impeding access to the product. Such problems are frustrating to shoppers who may then unconsciously associate poor quality with the product or the store.
Certain products are best displayed with faceout or waterfall displays. Such displays allow product, such as garments, to be stored and displayed in an optimal way for highlighting the product and ensuring that sufficient stock is ready and available for selection and purchase. Faceout and waterfall display brackets can be mounted on wall standards or freestanding fixtures.
Wall standards are typically elongated chrome structures having numerous slots for attachment of brackets for display devices, such as shelves, hooks, faceouts and waterfall displays. One advantage of the use of wall standards is that the display devices can be placed at various levels as products and stock changes. Wall standards also provide some stability if installed properly. Unfortunately, the stability provided by wall mounts is limited by the security of the engagement of the slot to the attachment members provided on the display members.
Freestanding fixtures provide flexibility because they can be moved around the store, however they present an additional stability problem. Such displays can wobble. The problem is magnified with the use of faceout and waterfall accessories, which can increase the wobble factor. The instability of some chrome fixtures is a safety issue and also detracts from the customer's shopping experience; both of which are bad for profitability.
In addition to stability issues, typical slot walls, whether of metal or wood, require a great deal of labor to manufacture. It would be preferable to bore holes, however it has been previously impossible to create a single piece fixture that can be readily engaged and disengaged with a bored opening. Pegs created for round holes freely rotate and cannot support a cantilever bracket of any length. Moreover, the typical chrome displays do not tend to enhance the image of products and stores. Many high-end retailers and manufacturers seek product displays that support and enhance the desired image.
One approach is the assembly shown in FIG.
1
. Assembly
1
includes a peg
4
attached to three-spaced disc members
7
,
8
,
9
for engaging a hole
3
drilled in a support
2
. One of the end discs
7
has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the hole
3
and can be placed through the hole
3
. Once disc
6
is passed through hole
3
, a portion
6
of peg
4
is allowed to rest within hole
3
. The middle disc
8
has a diameter that is large enough to conceal hole
3
when the portion
6
is resting within hole
3
. Middle disc
8
also helps retain peg
4
within hole
3
. The outer portion
5
of peg
4
provides a place to hang a garment, and outer disc
9
serves as a stop for a hanger.
While the device shown in
FIG. 1
provides an attractive fixture, it suffers from significant drawbacks. For example, while peg
4
can appear stably fixed to the support
2
, the peg wobbles within the hole and can be inadvertently removed when a hanger is removed from the peg. This could be hazardous to an unsuspecting customer or employee and could result in significant liability. In addition, due to the design, the outer portion of the peg cannot be much longer than the depth of the hole or the peg will fall out of the hole. With a support
2
having a depth of about ¾ inches, the design has a limited capacity of one to a few garments, which does not facilitate economical use of retail space. Moreover, customers are forced to search for the stock that relates to the display, which does not promote sales. Therefore, the design shown in
FIG. 1
does not solve the need for attractive, image-enhancing fixtures that are economical and versatile.
The challenge has been to design fixtures with positive image qualities that are functional, stable, versatile and space-efficient. Therefore, a need remains for new product fixtures.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present invention provides an assembly for supporting an object that includes a mounting structure having a first surface, an opposite surface and an opening therebetween. A relief or a bevel defining a relief surface surrounds a portion of the opening at a distance from the first surface. In a particular aspect of the invention, the relief is formed in the opposite surface of the mounting structure. An engagement body is engageable within the opening and a retaining flange projects from the body. The flange is shaped so that it can be received within the relief. The body defines an upper surface on an upper portion of the body and an opposite lower cam surface on a lower portion of the body. The flange defines a relief bearing surface and a leading edge having a width that is smaller than the dimension of the opening. The engagement body has a first height between the upper and lower cam surfaces that is less than a height of the opening and a second height between the leading edge and the lower cam surface that is greater than the height of the opening.
A retaining member, which has a first side and an opposite side, is attached to the engagement body adjacent to the lower cam surface. A cantilever support member having an attached end connects to the first side of the retaining member. The opposite end of the cantilever support member projects from the retaining member. The engagement body is engageable within the opening with the flange disposed within the relief and a bearing surface on the opposite side of the retaining member bearing against the first surface of the mounting structure. In one particular embodiment, the retaining member conceals the opening on the first side of the mounting structure.
The invention contemplates many modifications to the basic inventive concept. By ways of example only, in some embodiments, the retaining flange is formed at an angle that is from about 10° to about 45° relative to the upper surface, and the relief is formed at a relief angle between about 45° and about 80° relative to the opposite surface. In one aspect, the retaining flange is formed at an angle of about 25° relative to the upper surface, and the relief is formed at an angle of about 65° relative to the opposite surface. In some cases, the angle of the relief is acute and the flange defines a complementary angle. In addition, the lower cam surface of the assembly can be curved. In one aspect, the body has a rectangular cross-section but in another, it tapers from the upper portion to the lower portion. In certain embodiments, the upper surface has a width that is from about 5 to about 6 times larger than the width of the lower cam surface as it relates to the tapering of the upper portion to the lower portion of the body. In certain embodiments, the width of the leading edge is from about 6 to about 7 times larger than the width of the lower cam surface as it relates to the tapering of the upper portion to the lower portion of the body.
In yet another aspect, the opening is a circular bore and the dimension is the diam
Botkin Kirk Jeffrey
Botkin Monte Duane
Braun Leslie A.
Szumny Jon
Woodard Emhardt Moriarty McNett & Henry LLP
LandOfFree
Assembly for supporting and displaying objects does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Assembly for supporting and displaying objects, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Assembly for supporting and displaying objects will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3306142