Abstract:
The present invention provides for a unitary molded clip for displaying and storing jewelry. The clip is comprised of a base and first and second downwardly extending sidewalls, where the first and second downwardly extending sidewalls form the boundaries of a recess having a concave surface extending downwardly away from the surface of the base. A tab is provided which extends from the first downwardly extending side wall, projecting across the concave surface of the recess. Also provided is a first winged projection that extends downwardly from the base into the recess toward the tab. When an item of jewelry is inserted between the first winged projection and the tab, the jewelry is secured to the unitary molded clip.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a unitary molded clip for the display and storage of items for sale. More specifically, the present invention relates to a unitary molded clip for the display and storage of jewelry items.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Jewelry articles, particularly rings, can be stored and displayed in a variety of trays, holders or racks. The most common type of jewelry display for rings, described generally in U.S. Pat. No. 4,282,975, comprises a pad, generally of a plush felt or velvet material, which is placed in a tray, preferably of square or rectangular shape. The felt pad which rests within the tray is provided with a plurality of downwardly extending recesses into which a ring is inserted and which are generally configured such that the circular shank or lower portion of a ring is retained in the felt. The tray portion of this type of display is often configured to permit a plurality of trays to be nested upon each in stacked fashion.  
           [0003]    However, rings and other articles of jewelry are often provided with indicia labels or tags that contain important information such as composition, i.e. gold, silver, platinum, etc., weight, price and/or bar codes. Since indicia labels often detract from the beauty of the jewelry being displayed, some jewelers in the trade neglect to attach indicia tags to the jewelry, resorting instead to looking up price, composition and weight information, etc., in an index or price book. This, however, takes time and customers may become impatient while waiting to receive all the information. Jewelers, thus prefer to attach indicia tags directly to the jewelry so as to have immediate access to all information pertaining to that article. It is, however, preferred by those in the jewelry trade to keep such indicia labels out of sight of potential customers since it is hoped that a customer will first be impressed by the ring which they may see in a store window or display case and then be enticed to enter the store to inquire further before seeing the price of the ring.  
           [0004]    Prior art display trays, however, do not permit the rings to be stored and displayed while keeping the indicia tag out of sight. The upper surface of the prior art display tray are often provided with outwardly extending tabs permit only a limited portion of the indicia tag to be inserted underneath the tab. As such, the indicia tab is often left to hang free on the felt or other clip surfaces.  
           [0005]    The prior art display trays have also been found to inadequately secure and retain the jewelry items within the display case, particularly when the trays are moved or transported. Often times since the rings are constantly removed and reinserted from the tabs in the felt upper surface, the salesperson neglects to fully insert the ring into the tab, thus leaving the ring in a virtually unsecured condition.  
           [0006]    In addition to these drawbacks, the prior art display trays are difficult to clean and manipulate without getting unsightly finger prints on the jewelry items themselves. A need exists not only to create a jewelry display clip which is dust resistant and cleanable in itself, but which also provides a means to manipulate desired jewelry pieces easily and individually without touching the jewelry piece itself.  
           [0007]    Yet another concern in jewelry display and storage is the durability of the displays. Prior art clips of previous designs either produce high durability at the expensive of attractive display quality or they are of a good aesthetic quality but lack durability. Thus, there is also a need in the jewelry display and storage industry to provide a jewelry display clip which is not only of durable construction but is also of good aesthetic quality.  
           [0008]    Accordingly, there is a need for a jewelry display and storage device employed to display and store articles of jewelry thereon, and which avoids the disadvantages discussed above.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for securely displaying and storing a piece of jewelry.  
           [0010]    To this end the present invention provides for a unitary molded clip for displaying and storing jewelry. The clip is comprised of a base platform having first and second downwardly extending sidewalls, where the first and second downwardly extending sidewalls form the boundaries of a recess having a concave surface extending downwardly away from the surface of the base. A tab is provided which extends from the first downwardly extending side wall projecting across the concave surface of the recess. Also provided is a first winged projection that extends downwardly from the base into the recess towards the tab. When an item of jewelry is inserted between the first winged projection and the tab, the jewelry is secured to the unitary molded clip.  
           [0011]    The present invention also provides for a second winged projection positioned opposite the first winged projection which extends downwardly from the base into the recess toward the tab. The first and second winged projections are recessed relative to the base of the unitary molded clip and spaced apart from the first and second downwardly extending walls and the tab.  
           [0012]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the recess is triangular in shape, formed by the first and second downwardly extending walls and the first and second winged projections. The recess is preferably at either a 15 degree or a 25 degree angle downward from the plane of the base. The second downwardly extending wall of the recess forms a guideway in which to manipulate the jewelry into a position between the tab and the first winged projection.  
           [0013]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the unitary molded clip is made of plastic and is produced by injection molding. Both the first and the second winged projection are also constructed of a resilient plastic.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 illustrates a top elevation of a unitary molded clip, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1A illustrates a top elevation of a unitary molded clip, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1B illustrates a top elevation of a unitary molded clip, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of a unitary molded clip, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 illustrates a top elevation of a unitary molded clip with an attached jewelry piece, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional elevation of a unitary molded clip with an attached jewelry piece, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5A illustrates a top view of a unitary molded clip, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5B illustrates an angled top elevation view of a unitary molded clip, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 illustrates a side elevation view of a unitary molded clip, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 illustrates a clip on a mount of a unitary molded clip, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]    In one embodiment of the present invention a unitary molded clip  2  is provided for the display of and storage of jewelry items. Unitary molded clip  2 , provides retailers and sales persons added advantages including but not limited to, sturdy and aesthetically pleasing display of jewelry, clean dust resistant construction that allows the jewelry to be manipulated without touching the piece itself, easy storage and travel and configurations, gaps through which unsightly tags can be concealed and versatility is display.  
         [0025]    Clip  2  is preferably constructed of a durable dust-repellant plastic such as lexan. The advantages to Lexan include but are not limited to durable construction, resilient properties which lend themselves to the clip features discussed in more detail below, easily moldable into various shapes and designs during construction and the durable construction allow jewelry to be steam cleaned while still in clip  2 . However, the use of Lexan is in no way intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Clip  2  can be constructed of any material provided it is capable of supporting the functions of clip  2 . For the purposes of illustration, clip  2  referred to throughout the application will be of a plastic construction. As clip  2  is constructed of plastic and because of its unitary construction, a large number of clips  2  can be produced quickly and cheaply by injection molding.  
         [0026]    In another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1, clip  2  includes a base  4  and side walls  5 . Base  4  is preferably a flat plastic plane and provides the main body of clip  2 . Sidewalls  5  provide support for base  4  such that the flat plane of base  4  is elevated off of the surface on which clip  2  is placed. Base  4  and the accompanying sidewalls  5  can be constructed of transparent, translucent or opaque plastic, and can be constructed in any color including clear plastic. Additionally, as per the purchasers desire, base  4  may be smooth surfaced or textured so as to meet the aesthetic requirements of the purchaser. An example of textured for the surface of base  4  may include but is not limited to dimpled surfaces, leather like surface and/or rope bordered.  
         [0027]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, base  4  represents a single clip  2  however, this is in no way intended to limit the scope of the present invention. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, base  4  supports of number of individual clips  2 . This formations allows for several advantages including but not limited to custom design clips  2  for display and easy storage of multiple jewelry pieces  6  for easy display and storage for travel.  
         [0028]    In another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1B multiple clips  2  can be arranged on bases  4  such that when placed together in storage, jewelry pieces  6  interlock between for maximization of storage space. This configuration is ideal for traveling sales persons who wish not only to securely transport a large number of jewelry pieces  6  but also desire the ability to quickly convert jewelry  6  from a stored position to an aesthetic display position.  
         [0029]    As the salient features of an individual clip  2  remain constant regardless of the number of clips  2  present on base  4 , for the purposes of illustration base  4  will be discussed throughout as a base  4  which maintains a single clip  2 .  
         [0030]    Base  4  and the accompanying sidewalls  5 , can be of any shape or size desired by the purchaser. As illustrated in FIG. 1, base  4  is preferably a standard shape such as a square, so that a purchaser who orders multiple clips  2  will have the added display flexibility to move various jewelry pieces  6  around without having to exchange pieces  6  between different clips  2  having different shapes for base  4 . Other shapes for base  4  includes circles as in FIGS.  5 A and  5 B.  
         [0031]    Clip  2  further maintains first and second downwardly extending walls  8  and  10  which form a recess  12  in the surface of base  4 . First downwardly extending wall  8  is angled at pitch of between 5-30% from vertical. This pitch provides a steep angled wall  8  against which the shank portion of a jewelry piece  6  can rest against in order to properly display piece  6 .  
         [0032]    Second downwardly extending wall  10  is angled at a pitch between 5-30% from horizontal. This pitch provides clip  2  with a guideway 14  by which jewelry piece  6  can be lowered into position as described later.  
         [0033]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, first and second downwardly extending walls  8  and  10 , and guideway  14  form recess  12  in the plane of base  4 . The shape of recess  12  is preferably triangular or semi-elliptical with first downwardly extending wall  8  forming the bottom of the triangle, or cross section of the semi-ellipse, and second downwardly extending wall  10 , and guideway  14  produced therefrom, form the upper two portions of the triangle or the curved portion of the semi-ellipse.  
         [0034]    Also, as illustrated in FIG. 1, it should be noted that the angle from vertical at which first downwardly extending wall  8  progresses away from base  4  corresponds to the angle from horizontal that second downwardly extending wall  10  progresses away from base  4 . For example, if second downwardly extending wall  10  were to be at angle of 15 degrees from horizontal then first downwardly extending wall would be at 15 degrees from vertical. As such, although downwardly extending walls  8  and  10  do not intersect, the hypothetical extrapolated intersection point of downward extending walls  8  and  10  would meet at a 90 degree angle.  
         [0035]    In this configuration, and as shown in FIG. 3, when jewelry piece  6  is placed in clip  2 , piece  6  will fit squarely and snugly into clip  2 . The angle for both first and second downwardly extending walls  8  and  10  is preferably 15 degrees or 25 degrees, however any complementary angles can be used depending on the purchaser&#39;s wishes. It should also be noted that although it is preferable that the angles of first and second downwardly extending walls  8  and  10  be equal there is no requirement per se. For example, it is possible that the angles be only substantially similar, or in the case of oddly shaped jewelry entirely different. However, and for the purposes of illustration, the angle from vertical for first downwardly extending wall  8  and the angle from horizontal for second downwardly extending wall  10  are equal.  
         [0036]    Clip  2  is further provided with a tab or projection  16 , as illustrated in FIG. 1, which extends perpendicular away from first downwardly extending wall  8  out across recess  12 . Tab  16  is resiliently constructed such that it maintains near rigidity, but is flexible enough to allow for jewelry piece  6  to bend tab  16  slightly while being placed into clip  2 . It should be noted that the relative rigidity of tab  16  can be varied depending upon the purchaser&#39;s specification as set based on the type of jewelry  6  to be used in clip  2 .  
         [0037]    Tab  16  of clip  2  is positioned from first downwardly extending wall  8  such that its lower face  16   a  is above the upper surface of guideway  14  formed by second downwardly extending wall  10 . As such, tab  16  extends away from downwardly extending wall  8  at the same angle from horizontal that second downwardly extending wall  10  progresses from base  4 , such that tab  16  is substantially parallel to guideway  14  forming an opening by which a user could slide jewelry piece  6  between.  
         [0038]    Clip  2  is further provided with plastically deformable first and second wing projections  18  and  20  which are diametrically opposed to one another on either side of recess  12  and extend downwardly away from base  4  into recess  12 . First and second wing projections  18  and  20  are separate from first downwardly extending wall  8  and progress downwardly into recess  12  under tab  16 . Although first and second wing projections  18  and  20  do not meet, they approach one another leaving a small gap between the two. Additionally, first and second wing projections  18  and  20  each progress into recess  12  along the edges of first and second downwardly extending walls  8  and  10 , however there are gaps between wings  18  and  20  on either side between downwardly extending walls  8  and  10 .  
         [0039]    As such, in this configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 2, recess  12  which extends below the surface of base  12  is formed by guideway  14  of the second downwardly extending wall  10 , first downwardly extending wall  8  and first and second winged projections  18  an  20 . A gap is provided between each of these components so as to allow the deformable wings to be resilient such that when jewelry piece  6  is inserted into clip  2 , winged projections  18  and  20  will be able to move independently of first and second downwardly extending walls  8  and  10 , and thus be able to apply upward pressure against jewelry piece  6  into tab  16 .  
         [0040]    It should be noted that the illustrated winged projections  18  and  20  are in no way intended to limit the scope of the present invention. For example, clip  2  may maintain a single winged projection (not pictured) which extends not only to tab  16  but partly across the under side of tab  16 , such that a single winged projection would maintain the entire function of wing projections  18  and  20 . Alternatively, multiple winged projections such as four or six winged projections (not pictured) could be used by adding additional gaps within the structure of first and second winged projections  18  and  20  creating additional winged projections. In this configuration, the use of additional winged projections may increase the versatility of clip  2  to facilitate the accommodation of varying sizes of jewelry pieces  6 . Any similar clip  2  which utilizes any number of resilient winged projections is within the contemplation of the present invention.  
         [0041]    In use, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the operator of clip  2  places jewelry piece  6  down along guideway  14  such that the bottom shank portion of a ring or other jewelry piece  6  to be displayed is clipped between tab  16  and first and second winged projections  18  and  20 . The resilient quality of winged projections  18  and  20  and of tab  16  allow just enough movement so that jewelry piece  6  can fit snugly into position. Not only does this allow for secure display of jewelry piece  6 , but also the resilient qualities of winged projection  18  and  20  to support any size ring or jewelry piece  6 .  
         [0042]    In order to properly display and store jewelry piece  6  it is positioned all the way back in clip  2  such that the shank of piece  6  is secured not only against wings  18  and  20  and tab  16 , but jewelry piece  6  is also positioned snugly against first downwardly extending wall  8 , such that the shank of jewelry piece  6  maintains the same angle as first downwardly extending wall  8 .  
         [0043]    In this configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 3, jewelry piece  6  is not only held in place but it is also held at near vertical angle such that the featured jewel of piece  6  faces directly towards the customer&#39;s eye. The specific angle at which jewelry piece  6  is displayed is based on the angles for first and second downwardly extending walls  8  and  10 , discussed above, as chosen by the purchaser of clip  2 .  
         [0044]    Once jewelry piece  6  is in position, winged projections  18  and  20 , due to their resilient quality, hold piece  6  up against tab  16 . In this position there are many options to the retailer or sales person of jewelry piece  6 . For example, as discussed above, in this position piece  6  can be displayed, moved, viewed by a customer, or placed into a container for storage and transport, all without touching piece  6 . This allows complete viewing, movement and storage of jewelry piece  6  without depositing any unwanted fingerprints. In this configuration, the not only is jewelry piece six in a position to properly display it to the customer, but also the tags used to identify the pieces can be placed through the gaps between tabs  16  and winged projections  18  and  20  so that the tags are placed under base  4 , increasing the overall aesthetic quality of the display.  
         [0045]    In another embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, clip  2  can be of a design such that clip  2  is disposed above the surface plane of base  4 . In this configuration, base tab  16  extends upwardly from first downwardly extending wall  8 . First and second winged projections  18  and  20  extend in the opposite direction, in the plane of the surface of base  4  such that the winged projections are disposed on either side of and parallel to tab  16 . As such, as more clearly illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, tab  16  extends above the surface of base  4  and first and second winged projections  18  and  20  which are disposed on either side of tab  16  and extend in the plane of the surface of base  4 . In this configuration, when jewelry piece  6  is clipped into position such that the shank is disposed under tab  16  and over winged projections  18  and  20 , the resilient properties of winged projections  18  and  20  force the shank portion of jewelry piece  6  to be pressed firmly upward against tab  16  exposing the maximum amount of jewelry piece  6  to provide the best aesthetic view of the piece. In this embodiment all of the other advantages are retained such as sturdy storage, ability to be cleaned in clip  2 , easily manipulated without getting fingerprints on jewelry piece  6 , and displayed in a manner that directs the jewel of jewelry piece  6  towards the eye of the customer.  
         [0046]    While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes or equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore, to be understood that this application is intended to cover all such modifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of the invention.