Abstract:
Disclosed is a modular system for displaying articles, providing a working surface for a worker, or both in a retail or exhibition environment. The modular system comprises a plurality of blocks configurable to form structures without fastening means therebetween, each block having a shape of a generally rectangular cuboid. The dimensions of each block are configured to form the structures based on stacking, aligning, placing, arranging, tilting, slanting, or a combination thereof.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Even with the convenience afforded by online shopping, people in general have needs and likes to physically go for shopping at supermarkets, warehouse stores, department stores and other retail stores, to actually take a look at, touch and feel a wide variety of displayed articles to select from. Large-scale exhibitions, trade shows and conferences, such as COMIC-CON® and CES® (Consumer Electronics Show), are held periodically to enhance interest among the general public in new products and services. Thus, it is of paramount importance for retailers to display articles in a manner that attracts people to look at, touch, feel and examine the articles. 
         [0002]    In view of the retailers&#39; and consumers&#39; needs as above, this document describes a transportable, easy-to-configure modular system for displaying articles, providing a working surface for a worker, or both in the retail or exhibition environment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  shows an example configuration of the modular system with displayed articles. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  shows another example configuration of the modular system with displayed articles. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  shows stacks of the blocks before or after use as structures for displaying articles or for other purposes. 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  shows yet another example configuration of the modular system with displayed articles. 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  shows an example configuration of the modular system providing a working surface. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    The present modular system can be configured to form benches, towers, cases, pedestals, tables, racks and other supporting structures for displaying articles in a retail store, an exhibition or trade show, a museum and the like. The present modular system can also be configured to form a checkout counter, a cook-out counter, a work station and other surface-providing units for providing a working surface for a worker to use in the retail or exhibition environment. The present modular system includes a plurality of blocks with various sizes, which are predetermined so that two or more blocks can be stacked, aligned, placed, arranged, tilted, and/or slanted to form a structure without nails, screws, nuts, bolts or other fastening means, thereby being modular to provide various configurations and structures as well as being transportable from one place to another. Each of the blocks has a shape of a generally rectangular cuboid, which can be hollow inside. The block may be made of wood or other hard natural material, plastic such as acrylic or other synthetic material, or any combination thereof. The color of the block may be of natural wood or any color, which may be transparent or opaque, or any combination thereof. Each block can be made of six panels to form a generally rectangular cuboid having a hollow interior, wherein one or more of the six panels or part of one panel can be removed to form one or more openings. These panels can be made with various sizes so that multiple panels may be staggered or flushed to cover the opening. These panels can also be used to display articles thereon. Configurations of the blocks, i.e., structural shapes, can be determined effectively according to the types, weights and sizes of the articles to be displayed, as well as to be visually appealing to people. 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows an example configuration of the modular system with displayed articles. A pair of relatively large blocks is used to support an apparel bar in each of the structures  104  and  105 . This example includes a pair of wooden blocks, each having dimensions of 48″×16″×12″, wherein the four sides with the largest dimension (48″) are placed along the vertical direction, and the two faces with 16″×12″ are placed to be the top surface and the bottom surface, respectively. An apparel bar is placed to bridge these two blocks to hang cloths such as shirts, tops and the like. The apparel bar, for example, can be made of chrome having a length of 48″ with two patches attached at two end portions, respectively, to be put on the top surfaces of the blocks, respectively. 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  includes another structure  108  for displaying shoes. The structure  108  can be configured with multiple blocks to form two tilted surfaces, in this example, on which the shoes are displayed. The angle of the tilted surface can be predetermined so that the friction between the block surface and the sole of the shoe can prevent the shoe from sliding down. With the tilted displaying surfaces, the displayed articles can be observed clearly by customers from their eye level. At the same time, the unique structure may be visually appealing to customers. 
         [0011]      FIG. 2  shows another example configuration of the modular system with displayed articles. A large figurine or mannequin wearing a sport uniform is staged on a flat surface of a structure  204  constructed with one or more blocks. The stage is geometrically surrounded by four tall blocks to form a structure  208  to display shoes to be worn for the sport indicated by the uniform that the large figurine is wearing. 
         [0012]      FIG. 2  includes another structure  212 , wherein multiple blocks are stacked to form a stair case. The top surface of each step of the stair case can be used for displaying articles. In this example, three steps are formed, and socks are displayed on the top surface of the middle step. On the top surface of the top-most step of the stair case, a structure  216  resembling a show case with three open windows is placed. This structure  216  can be configured, for example, by using three blocks, each with dimensions of 18″×12″×16″ and with one face (e.g., 12″×16″) open by removing the panel. The thickness of the panel forming each face can be about 1″. Alternative to using three small size blocks, one big block, for example, with dimensions of 10″×48″×16″ can be used with one face (e.g., 48″×16″) open. 
         [0013]      FIG. 3  shows stacks of the blocks before or after use as structures for displaying articles or for other purposes. The plurality of blocks in the modular system can be grouped according to the sizes. For example, one group may comprise blocks, each having a shape of a rectangular cuboid with dimensions of 48″×16″×12″. The blocks in this group can be stacked to form a large cube with dimensions of 48″×48″×48″, wherein each layer comprises 16″×3 units along the first horizontal direction and 12″×4 units along the second horizontal direction orthogonal to the first horizontal direction. Stacking them into a compact form such as a large cube or a large rectangular cuboid, as shown in  FIG. 3 , is enabled by properly predetermining dimensions of the block in each group. Such a compact form makes it easy to transport it on a pellet having a standard size of 48″×40″, for example, or in a crate. A block that has an open face can be covered with one or more panels with predetermined dimensions for the compact stacking. In  FIG. 3 , three transparent blocks  304  are shown in contrast to the wooden blocks  308 . 
         [0014]      FIG. 4  shows yet another example configuration of the modular system with displayed articles. Several transparent blocks  404  are placed on several wooden blocks  408 , respectively. The transparent block  404  may be made of acrylic. A doll or figurine wearing a sport uniform is displayed inside the transparent block  404  in this example. The dimensions of the top surface of the wooden block  408  is substantially the same as those of the bottom surface of the transparent block  404 , in this example. However, the individual sizes of the blocks can be varied depending on the sizes and types of the articles to display and how visually appealing the structures are. 
         [0015]      FIG. 5  shows an example configuration of the modular system providing a working surface. Relatively large-size blocks, each having a shape of a rectangular cuboid with dimensions of 48″×16″×12″, for example, can be stacked with aligned sides to form a larger size cuboid  504 , which can be used as a workstation, checkout counter, cook-out counter, and the like. With this configuration, the top surface is readily provided for a worker to use in the retail or exhibition environment. 
         [0016]    It should be understood that the specific dimensions in this document are cited as examples for the purpose of illustrating the design and features of the present modular system, and that these are approximate values. While this document contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of an invention or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of the invention. Certain features that are described in this document in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be exercised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or a variation of a subcombination.