Abstract:
A portable, foldable display apparatus that can be folded into a structure that is approximately one foot wide so that it can be easily stored. The apparatus is fitted with wheels so that the apparatus can be easily moved once it has been set up. An optional telescoping advertisement sign is provided. Multiple levels of display surfaces are provided. The apparatus can be used to display floral arrangements or other articles. The apparatus can be easily manufactured with display surfaces having different shapes to accommodate different merchandize.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/373,707, filed on Apr. 18, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention generally relates to display apparatus, and, in particular, apparatus for use in stores for displaying floral arrangements or other merchandize that will encourage sales by allowing potential customers to easily view the goods in an attractive manner.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Typical supermarkets as well as large discount chain having a variety of merchandise, frequently sell flower arrangements or other items that need to be displayed impulse buying. Since this type of merchandize is typically large and quite heavy, the usual cardboard display devices are not suitable. Structures having sufficient strength to hold vases or containers of flowers can be quite heavy and difficult to move once the need for them has passed.  
           [0006]    Current devices for displaying flowers are typically fixed in size so that as the number of items decreases, the display may appear to a potential customer as being relatively empty with only the items that might have been considered as less desirable being left behind by prior shoppers. Again, this reduces the likelihood of sale of the remaining merchandize.  
           [0007]    Building a permanent structure to display such items also is very difficult to store once the need for it has passed. While it can be taken down, the pieces then must be reassembled again for future use. Since the need for such structures may be intermittent yet substantially frequent, the cost associated with taking the display down and putting it up over and over could easily be quite substantial. Further, the frequent set-up and takedown will cause significant wear and tear on the display in a rather short period of time.  
           [0008]    While a foldable table will meet the requirements of being easily stowable and quick to set-up, this solution lacks the attractiveness, such has as having multiple levels, to display the flower containers in the most attractive manor. Again, this diminishes the use of this approach.  
           [0009]    A display apparatus, having multiple levels, that is easily foldable and stowable, is fitted with wheels, and can be outfitted with an optional telescoping sign, has a multiple display positions for displaying varying numbers of flower containers, is not found in the prior art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
         [0010]    It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a portable foldable floral display apparatus that can be folded into a structure that is approximately one foot wide so that it can be easily stored.  
           [0011]    It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a portable foldable floral display apparatus that is fitted with wheels so that the apparatus can be easily moved once it has been set up.  
           [0012]    It is still another aspect of the present invention to provide a portable foldable floral display apparatus that has provision for attachment of a telescoping advertisement sign.  
           [0013]    It is still another aspect of the present invention to provide a portable foldable floral display apparatus that can be manufactured in a number of display surface shapes to accommodate different merchandise.  
           [0014]    Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a portable foldable floral display apparatus that has multi-level display surfaces so that a more attractive arrangement of the items that are to be sold can be arranged.  
           [0015]    It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a portable foldable floral display apparatus that can be easily fabricated using readily available parts and construction materials.  
           [0016]    Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a portable foldable floral display apparatus that can be partially collapsed so that the amount of display surface can be adjusted to correspond to the number of items remaining to be sold or to fit into a smaller space than is required for the apparatus when fully extended.  
           [0017]    These aspects of the invention are not meant to be exclusive and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when read in conjunction with the appended claims and accompanying description. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1. is an isometric view of the apparatus fully opened with a plurality of flower containers resting thereon in accordance with the invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a left side view of the apparatus showing the left base display surface in the stowed position and the right top display surface in a partially closed position.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a left/right side view of the apparatus in the fully opened position with the optional sign assembly attached.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a front view of the apparatus with the left base display in the stowed position.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a top view.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a bottom view showing the base support assembly.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is a bottom view showing the base support assembly in a partially position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]    The invention is a portable display apparatus that is particularly well suited for displaying floral arrangement, however, other merchandise such as stuffed animals, dolls, plates, toys, and so on could also displayed. The apparatus can be set-up in different configurations so that more or less display surface area is provided by collapsing one or more of the display surfaces leaves. Further, once the display is no longer needed, the apparatus can be folded into an easily stowable size which can then be rolled away for future use. The apparatus can conveniently be fabricated from readily available materials so that the manufacturing cost is comparatively low.  
         [0026]    The panels in the invention can be made from plywood, fiberboard, laminates or other materials used for display apparatus. The dimensions of apparatus  10  are not critical; however, to meet typical store requirements, the overall dimensions are preferably about 4′ by 4′, having a height about 30″ from the floor to the top display surface. The collapsed dimensions are preferably less than one foot wide and four feet long, having a height that is about the same as in the opened position.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1. is an isometric view of the display apparatus  10  fully opened with a plurality of flower containers  20  resting thereon in accordance with the invention. The left  13  and right  12  display surface leaves are shown as being shaped to form an oval when opened. However, other shapes of display leaves could also be used such as rectangular, hexagonal, pentagonal, round, or even free form.  
         [0028]    Horizontal base separator  14  is used to support the top display surfaces  30 ,  31  via two vertical separators  16  disposed between horizontal separator  18 . Vertical separators  16  and horizontal separator  18  provide a storage structure which used to attach the folded display surfaces into a collapsed configuration ready for storage as shown in FIG. 9.  
         [0029]    Top display surfaces  30 ,  31  are held into position via pivotal brackets  22  which have one leg of the bracket  22  attached to the surface leaf and the other leg attached to separator panel  44 . Each surface leaf  30 ,  31  has at least one bracket  22 . This type of bracket is well known in the art and is used for card tables, utility tables, and the like which need to easily folded when not in use. The two legs are pivotally connected at their non-attachment ends so that the display surface can be collapsed by merely folding one leg towards the other. Other arrangements, also well known in the art, could also be used such as a hook and eye fastener, or other fasteners commonly used in table leaf arts where the hinged leaf forms an extension when raised into place.  
         [0030]    As shown in FIG. 1, only two levels of collapsible leaves are provided, however, more than two can easily be accomplished. For example, a mid-section display leaf (not shown) could be inserted between top display leaf  30  and base display leaf  12 . The midsection display leaf would be held in position using another bracket  22  or other similar fastener mentioned above.  
         [0031]    Referring now to FIG. 2, apparatus  10  is shown in the partially collapsed configuration. Display leaf  12  is supported by base support assembly  32  which is discussed below. Leaves  12 ,  13  are attached to horizontal base separator  18  via hinge  34 . Hinge  34  is preferably a piano-hinge type, however, butt hinges or other type of hinge well known in the art could also be used.  
         [0032]    Leaves  12 ,  13  optionally can be outfitted with detents (not shown) or openings  36  so that apparatus  10  is particularly adapted for use as a floral arrangement holder.  
         [0033]    In the collapsed position, leaf  13  is placed vertically, resting against vertical separators  16 . In order to ensure that leaf  13  is held in place, strap  28  is used. If both leaves  12 ,  13  are placed in the stowage position, then strap  28  can attach one to the other. Otherwise to merely hold one side up, as shown in FIG. 2, the snaps (not shown) on strap  28  can be attached to the leaf and the other to vertical separators  16 . The type of snaps are not critical and any common snap such as used in clothing, boat canvas attachments, etc. can be used.  
         [0034]    Top leaf  30  is shown in a partially folded position. Note that bracket  22  has one leg attached to leaf  30  and other leg attached to separator panel  44 . To fold leaf  30 , bracket  22  is released so that the legs are free to move around pivot  21  and leaf  30  drops down in the direction of arrow  23 . Leaf  30  is attached to horizontal top separator  18  via hinge  24 . Again, hinge  24  is preferably a piano-type of hinge but butt-hinges are other types well known in the art could also be utilized.  
         [0035]    A sign assembly  26  is shown mounted on top of top separator  18  as will be discussed below.  
         [0036]    Referring to FIG. 3, apparatus  10  is shown with all leaves  12 ,  13 ,  30 ,  31  in the closed or collapsed configuration. Note that base support assembly  32  is not attached to leaves  12 ,  13 . Rather, leaves  12 ,  13  merely rest upon base support assembly  32 .  
         [0037]    As shown in FIG. 4, apparatus  10  is a left or right side view showing that the invention is bilaterally symmetrical. Sign assembly  26  includes base  40  which releasably attaches to horizontal top separator  18 . Positioned within base  40  is telescopic support  42  with sign  38  at the top. Sign assembly  28  provides a convenient method of permitting the store to advertising the price or other pertinent information about the goods being displayed for sale.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 and differs only in that top leaf  31  and right leaf  13  have been collapsed so that apparatus  10  now requires only half as much floor space. While leaf  30  is shown opened, it could be collapsed as well to permit the display of larger items, such as tall plants, etc.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 6 is a top view of apparatus  10 . As noted above, the particular shape of leafs  12 ,  13  and  30 ,  31  enable apparatus  10  to have an oval configuration. However, one or both of leaves  12  and  13  could be shaped as shown with dotted line  58  as well as top leaves  30 ,  31  could be configured as noted by dotted line  60 , thus providing a rectangular shape. In this manner, leafs could be designed to have a number of shapes as previously noted as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in this art.  
         [0040]    Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8, base support assembly  32  is shown in detail. Base separator wheel support member  50  is rigidly attached to the underside of horizontal base separator  14 . Member  50  can be attached to separator  14  using a variety of techniques well known in the art such as screws, nails, glue, bolts, etc. Member  50  is preferably fitted with caster wheels  56  at the opposing ends. The selection of caster wheels  56  is not critical but should enable a user to be able to move apparatus  10  even when fully loaded. Preferably, at least one or more of the caster wheels  56  should be a locking type, again well known in the art, so that the wheels can be locked to prevent customers or children from moving apparatus  10  once it has been set in place.  
         [0041]    Extending from each side of member  50  are base display surface support members  52 , a pair extending from each side of member  50  as shown. Members  52  are attached to member  50  using hinges  54 . Hinges  54  are preferably butt-type but again other hinge types well known in the art could be substituted. Note that members  52  properly positioned so that respective base display leaves are properly supported by locking members  52  together using a u-shaped pin  46  such that each end of the “U” drops into a hole on the top of its respective member  52  or, in the alternative, hook and eye fastener  48  drops into holes located on the top of hook and eye fastener  48  which would be attached to the bottom of each member  52 . Again, other easily releasable fasteners well known in the art could be used.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 9 shows the invention in the fully collapsed state, ready for storage. As noted above, base support assembly  32  is preferably permanently attached. However, member  50  could be attached to horizontal separator  14  using bolts and wing nuts, if it was desired to have apparatus  10  to have even a smaller storage “footprint”.  
         [0043]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other versions are readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the claims is not limited to the description of the preferred embodiments contained herein.