Display device

A device for displaying an article on a peg-board, including first and second housing portions securable to the front face of the peg-board, a recoil mechanism for a cable, and an adapter plate secured to the cable distal end and securable to an article to be displayed. The housing first portion has L-shaped prongs at its top with a distal end extending upwardly adjacent the peg-board back. The housing second portion has L-shaped prongs at its bottom with a distal end extending downwardly adjacent the peg-board back. The housing portions define a substantially enclosed space adjacent the peg-board front face, and the housing first portion defines a housing front face with an opening through the housing front face to the enclosed space. The recoil mechanism is biased toward retracting the cable into the recoil mechanism and disposed in the base housing enclosed space with the cable extending through the housing front face opening with the cable distal end outside the housing enclosed space.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to displays, and more particularly to displays which allow the displayed articles to be seen and handled by interested users.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Display of articles intended for sale, for example, in retail stores, are of course well known.

In some instances, it is desirable for the articles to not only be visibly displayed, but also displayed in a manner which will allow a user to pick up and handle the article. For example, cellular phones, computer mouses, handheld calculators, etc. are frequently displayed in this manner to allow potential purchasers to hold the article and thereby gain an appreciation of its size, weight, feel, etc. which might not otherwise be available if the article is viewable only inside a box (or not otherwise viewable at all where the article is expensive enough to require that it be stored in a secure area where potential purchasers cannot access even the box. Further, by making such articles accessible to potential customers, problems with those persons undesirably opening (and perhaps spoiling) packaging in order to see the article can be avoided.

In certain cases, the actual article is itself displayed. Particularly in cases where the article is expensive, various security devices have heretofore been used to prevent the displayed articles from being lost, either through a customer inadvertently walking off with the device, or through deliberate theft. Such displays may commonly include tethering the articles to security cables (to prevent inadvertent taking by potential customers), but also include special cables and electronics which will sound an alarm if the article is removed from the cable or the cable is cut. Further, the base of such displays is often especially configured to protect the remote end of the cable and the associated electronic alarm(s) to protect against access which would allow a thief to disable the security device(s). Still further, such devices typically require a power source for operation. Unfortunately, in many retail stores, for example, such power is not readily available and, even if it is available, locating a closed base as required for such devices is not only relatively expensive, but can also be difficult to build, can take up a disproportionate amount of floor space, and can hinder changing the layout of the store and its shelves should a change be desired later. Thus, such high security displays are not readily susceptible to use in many open displays, such as peg-boards, which are commonly and easily spread throughout retail facilities at locations where electrical power is not always readily available.

In any event, while expensive articles may benefit greatly from relatively expensive security devices having electronic alarms, in many instances the cost associated with protecting the article against theft is not justified relative to the cost of the displayed article itself. For example, the value of the displayed article may be low, or the displayed article(s) may be small non-standalone part(s) of a larger system, or what is displayed may be non-functioning samples which are of no value to a thief while nonetheless serving the function of allowing potential customers to handle the article to appreciate its size, weight, feel, etc.

Unfortunately, many display devices intended for use with low end present their own difficulties. For example, in order to be securely mounted to a wall, some require damaging the wall, and also require the use of special hardware. Further, with some displays, different versions are required to display different articles, and custom designs can increase the cost of the devices as well as making maintenance of adequate inventories of the display devices more costly as well. Still further, the manner of presentation of the articles is sometimes undesirable by, for example, failing to present the articles in an attention catching manner. Additionally, the life of some display devices is affected by their tendency to fray recoil cables.

The present invention is directed toward overcoming one or more of the above problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a device for displaying an article on a peg-board is provided, including a base housing having first and second portions securable to the front face of the peg-board, a recoil mechanism having a cable with a distal end, and an adapter plate secured to the cable distal end and securable to an article to be displayed. The housing first portion has at least one L-shaped prong at its top with a distal end extending upwardly adjacent the peg-board back when mounted to the peg-board. The housing second portion has at least one L-shaped prong at its bottom with a distal end extending downwardly adjacent the peg-board back when mounted to the peg-board. The housing first and second portions define a substantially enclosed space adjacent the peg-board front face, and the housing first portion defines a housing front face with an opening through the housing front face to the enclosed space. The recoil mechanism is biased toward retracting the cable into the recoil mechanism and disposed in the base housing enclosed space with the cable extending through the housing front face opening with the cable distal end outside the housing enclosed space.

In one form of this aspect of the present invention, the housing first and second portions each have opposing side walls extending substantially perpendicular from the peg-board with the side walls of the first portion overlapping the side walls of the second portion when mounted on the peg-board. In a further form, the overlapping side walls include interfering portions blocking relative movement perpendicular to the peg-board front face when mounted to the peg-board. In a still further form, the interfering portions are an opening in one of the overlapping side walls and a projection from the other of the overlapping side walls (the projection extending into the one side wall opening when overlapping), whereby one of the one side wall and the projection is elastically flexible whereby the projection may be selectively removed from the one side wall opening. In yet a further form, the other overlapping side wall includes cutouts defining an arm having the projection on an end wherein the arm is elastically bendable.

In another form of this aspect of the present invention, the base housing second portion pivots down over the base housing first portion around the at least one first portion L-shaped prong when mounted to a peg-board to close the enclosed space. In a further form, the housing first and second portions each have opposing side walls extending substantially perpendicular from the peg-board with the side walls of the first portion overlapping the side walls of the second portion when mounted on the peg-board.

In yet another form of this aspect of the present invention, the housing front face includes an oblong depression around the cable front face opening, and the adapter plate includes an oblong projection adapted to be received in the housing front face oblong depression when retracted against the housing front face to orient the adapter plate in a selection position.

In still another form of this aspect of the present invention, the housing front face is generally sloped from bottom to top toward the peg-board when mounted thereon.

Still a further form of this aspect of the present invention includes a fastener extending through holes in the first and second portions, with the holes aligned with each other when the first and second portions are mounted to the peg-board.

In another aspect of the present invention, a device is provided for displaying an article on a peg-board, including a base housing having first and second portions, a recoil mechanism having a cable with a distal end, and an adapter plate secured to the cable distal end whereby the adapter plate is biased toward the housing front face by the recoil mechanism and securable to an article to be displayed. The housing first portion when mounted to the peg-board is adjacent the peg-board front face and has two L-shaped prongs extending through two peg-board support holes with distal ends of the prongs extending in a first direction adjacent the peg-board back. The housing second portion when mounted to the peg-board has an L-shaped prong extending through one of the peg-board support holes with a distal end of the L-shaped prong extending in a second direction adjacent the peg-board back, the second direction being opposite the first direction. The housing first and second portions define a substantially enclosed space adjacent the peg-board front face, and one of the housing first and second portions defines a housing front face with an opening through the housing front face to the enclosed space. The recoil mechanism is biased toward retracting the cable into the recoil mechanism, and is disposed in the base housing enclosed space with the cable extending through the housing front face opening with the cable distal end outside the housing enclosed space.

In one form of this aspect of the present invention, the housing first and second portions each have opposing side walls extending substantially perpendicular from the peg-board with the side walls of the first portion overlapping the side walls of the second portion when mounted on the peg-board. In a further form, the overlapping side walls are detachably secured. In a still further form, the interfering portions are an opening in one of the overlapping side walls and a projection from the other of the overlapping side walls (the projection extending into the one side wall opening when overlapping), whereby one of the one side wall and the projection is elastically flexible whereby the projection may be selectively removed from the one side wall opening. In yet a further form, the other overlapping side wall includes cutouts defining an arm having the projection on an end wherein the arm is elastically bendable.

In another form of this aspect of the present invention, the base housing second portion pivots down over the base housing first portion around the first portion L-shaped prong when mounted to a peg-board to close the enclosed space. In a further form, the housing first and second portions each have opposing side walls extending substantially perpendicular from the peg-board with the side walls of the first portion overlapping the side walls of the second portion when mounted on the peg-board.

In yet another form of this aspect of the present invention, the housing front face includes an oblong depression around the cable front face opening, and the adapter plate includes an oblong projection adapted to be received in the housing front face oblong depression when retracted against the housing front face to orient the adapter plate in a selection position.

In still another form of this aspect of the present invention, the housing front face is generally sloped from bottom to top toward the peg-board when mounted thereon.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a review of the entire specification, including the appended claims and drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A display device20according to the present invention is shown inFIG. 1, mounted to a peg-board24. As best illustrated inFIG. 2, the device20generally consists of a base housing30(consisting of an upper or front base housing portion32and a lower or rear base housing portion34), a recoil mechanism40, and an adapter plate44, and is advantageously suited for displaying an article48(in phantom inFIG. 1) to gain the attention of potential purchasers as well as to allow such potential purchasers to handle the article48. The front and rear base housing portions32,34, which may be advantageously molded from poly-carbonate (a recyclable plastic), together define a substantially enclosed space adjacent the front face of the peg-board24.

It should be understood that references herein to “peg-boards” are intended to include not only peg-boards such as are known in the industry, but include any surface having holes therethrough for mounting thereon. Thus, peg-board as used herein also includes, for example, substrates such as slat walls (e.g., with horizontal slats having suitable separation, such as 4 inches on center, wherein the “holes” are horizontal slots), corrugated material (e.g., corrugated paper, such as in temporary displays, with holes die cut in an appropriate pattern) and punched metal (e.g., 18 to 20 gauge metal with an adapter plate, with holes therethrough to which the display device20described herein may be secured.

When installed, the rear base housing portion34is first attached to the peg-board24as shown inFIG. 3. The rear base housing portion34has L-shaped prongs50generally at the bottom of the rear base housing portion34, whereby the prong distal ends52are first extended through holes54in the peg-board24and the rear base housing portion34is then pivoted up so that the prong distal ends52extend down, behind and generally parallel to the back of the peg-board24.

The rear base housing portion34also includes opposing side walls58a,58b(seeFIG. 4) which extend substantially perpendicular from the peg-board24, a bottom60having an opening62, and a rear wall64.

The bottom opening62may be advantageously used to attach a counter mount accessory device when mounted to a horizontal surface. That is, a counter adapter may be mounted to a substantially horizontal counter, with upward pointing flanges with flared ends being received in the opening62to secure the rear base housing portion34thereto.

The side walls58a,58beach include cutouts which define upwardly extending arms66a,66bhaving outwardly extending projections68a,68bon their upper ends. The arms66a,66bare elastically flexible or bendable so that they may be bent by application of a force and return to their original configuration when the force is released.

The rear wall64advantageously includes rearwardly extending tabs70a,70bat the upper corners, and a centered leg74with a rearwardly extending tab76at its lower end. The leg74is elastically flexible or bendable so that it may be bent by application of a force and return to its original configuration when the force is released. Additionally, one or more slots78(seeFIG. 3) are provided in the top of the rear wall64, and at their bottom are aligned with an intermediate hole54′. It will be appreciated that in relatively permanent merchandise displays, a suitable clip may be used to also secure the back wall64to the peg-board24through the hole54′ in the slot78(as this will secure the rear base housing portion34against tipping forward on the peg-board24while the front base housing portion32is mounted thereon as illustrated, e.g., inFIG. 4).

In addition to the opening62, the bottom60includes a flange80, sloped upwardly from back to front, with a hole82therein.

The front base housing portion32includes a front face86which is oriented so as to be generally sloped from bottom to top toward the peg-board24when mounted thereon (as shown, e.g., inFIG. 1). The front base housing portion32also includes opposing side walls88a,88bwhich extend substantially perpendicular from the peg-board24, and overlap the side walls58a,58bof the rear base housing portion34when mounted on the peg-board24.

The front base housing portion32also includes a top wall90having a pair of L-shaped prongs92, whereby the prong distal ends94are first extended through holes54in the peg-board24and the front base housing portion32is then pivoted down over the rear base housing portion30so that the prong distal ends94extend up, behind and generally parallel to the back of the peg-board24(see particularlyFIG. 4a). It should be appreciated that when mounted in this manner, the tabs70a,70b,76of the rear base housing portion30will press against the front of the peg-board24such that the prong distal ends52,94will be positioned against the back of the peg-board24so that the display device20will be securely mounted without looseness which might allow the device20to wiggle or move. Such pressure additionally compensates for panel thickness variance (e.g., some peg-boards are 6 mm [or about 0.219 to 0.225 inch], while others are ¼ inch [or about 0.245 to 0.255 inch]), allowing the display device20to be readily used with different panels.

A flange96extends from the rear of the front face86and includes a hole or a slot98. The flange90is oriented so that it will pivot over and against the rear base housing portion flange80when the front base housing portion32is mounted as show, for example, inFIG. 4a. A suitable connector, such as a screw, or nut and bolt, may be secured through the aligned hole82and slot98to secure the base housing portions32,34together when mounted on the peg-board24, if desired.

Additionally, the side walls88a,88bof the front base housing portion32include holes100. When the side walls58a,58band88a,88bslide past each other when mounting the front base housing portion32, the lateral projections68a,68bare pushed in (flexing the arms66a,66binwardly of the housing) until the holes100are aligned with the projections68a,68b,at which point the arms661,66bwill bend back out and push the projections68a,68binto the holes100to secure the rear and front base housing portions32,34together. When thereafter removing the front base housing portion32, the projections88a,88bmay be pushed back inwardly by pushing through the holes100until they are clear of the holes100, at which point the front base housing portion32may be pivoted up.

The front base housing portion32of the illustrated embodiment includes a raised area110to allow for prominent presentation of the article being displayed, and also to provide space from the front face86of the front base housing portion32to facilitate grasping of the displayed article. Further, the raised area110includes an oblong depression114with a cable opening118therein.

The recoil mechanism40includes cable120having a head124on its distal end remote from the mechanism housing128. The recoil mechanism40may be of any suitable type which allows the cable128to be extended from the housing128when pulled out, with the cable128being biased toward retracting into the housing128. Mechanisms such as those which use a spring biasing a spool toward rotating in a direction which will wind the cable120around the spool can, for example, advantageously minimize the amount of cable120extended out of the housing128, and fully retract the cable128when it is released.

The back side of the front base housing portion32of the illustrated embodiment includes a grid of supporting flanges130which are configured to support and orient the housing128of the recoil mechanism40so that the cable120is aligned with the cable opening118.

An adapter plate44is suitably secured to the distal end of the cable120. For example, as illustrated inFIGS. 6-7, the head124may be pulled to extend the cable120from the recoil mechanism housing128and through both the cable opening118and a first opening140in the adapter plate44. The first opening140is larger than the cable head124and is connected to a second opening144by a slot146. The second opening144has a bottom shoulder148which defines a reduction in the bottom of the second opening144which is smaller than the cable head124.

Thus, the cable120can be secured to the adapter plate44by pulling the head through the first opening140as shown inFIG. 7, then pulling the cable120through the slot146to align the head124with the second opening144and releasing the head124(whereby the recoil mechanism40will pull the cable120through the second opening144and cause the head124to seat on the shoulder148, as shown inFIG. 6).

It should be appreciated that the recoil mechanism40may be secured to the back of the front base housing portion front face86, or it may be loosely retained against the supporting flanges130by the pull of the cable biasing force.

The adapter plate44as illustrated advantageously includes an oblong projection150on its back side which is adapted to be received in the housing front face oblong depression114when retracted by the recoil mechanism40. The oblong projection150will cooperate with the oblong depression114to facilitate return of the adapter plate44when released whereby the displayed article is oriented in a desired merchandising position.

In accordance with at least some aspects of the present invention, the displayed article48may be secured to the adapter plate44in any suitable manner. For example, suitable adhesives or glues may be used, or tape or pads having adhesives on both sides may be used. The article48may also be mechanically secured, as by a screw through the adapter plate44.

FIGS. 8-11illustrate a two-part adapter plate44′ which may be advantageously incorporated with the display device20of the present invention.

The adapter plate44′ includes a base member160with first and second openings140′,144′ and a slot146′ in between the openings140′,144′ for securing to the cable120via the cable head124such as previously described. The base member160also includes a raised lip around three sides including inwardly extending lips166and flanges168defining a slot open on one side into which the connecting member170may be slid.

The connecting member170includes a raised center portion172having a thinner rim172around three sides which may be slid into the slot defined by the lips166and flanges168of the base member160. The center potion172may be suitably secured to the displayed article48such as previously described. The center portion172includes a slot180therethrough, with an arm184in the slot180and secured at one end186so that the arm184is biased toward the base member160. A raised portion188on the back side of the arm184will thus engage the top of the base member160when the connecting member170is slid into the base member slot (seeFIG. 10). The raised portion188is positioned so as to be aligned with the base member first opening140′ when the connecting member170is fully in the base member slot, whereby the biasing of the arm184will cause the raised portion188to move into the first opening140′ (seeFIG. 11) and thereby retain the connecting member170(and connected article48) on the base member160. The connecting member170thus also covers the second opening144′ to securely retain the cable head124therein as well.

Should it be later desired to remove the connecting member170from the base member160(e.g., to switch to a different base member160secured to a different display article), a tool such as a rod or screwdriver can be pushed through the first opening140′ from the back to bend the arm184and move the raised portion188out of the first opening140′, whereby the connecting member170may be slid out of the base member slot.

Additionally, the base member160and connecting member170may include holes (190,192, respectively) which will be aligned when the connecting member170is seated in the base member slot (seeFIG. 11). A suitable connector such as a screw or pin may be pushed through both holes190,192to also (or alternatively) secure the base and connecting members160,170from being slit apart.

It should thus be appreciated that display devices according to the present invention will provide secure displays for articles at a small cost. Moreover, it should also be appreciated that display devices according to the present invention will provide secure displays which may be easily used in connection with displays (such as peg-boards) which are already common in retail stores, and which may be easily placed at or moved to virtually any store location, while also being readily adaptable for use with a variety of articles to be displayed. Further, using display devices according to the present invention to set up and change displays may be readily accomplished by store personnel with only minimal training. Still further, it should be appreciated that display devices according to the present invention may be environmentally friendly, as they may be made of, and used with, inexpensive, easy to use materials which may be recycled.