Unitarily molded display tray and clips

A unitarily molded display tray for displaying articles of jewelry having indicia tags is provided. The display tray included a plurality of recesses dispersed upon a single-plane unitary surface. Each recess has a corresponding clip which extends from one edge of the recess above the unitary surface to form a gap between the clip and the unitary surface. The clip is resiliently attached to the edge of the recesses such that an article of jewelry, such as a ring, may be inserted into the gap. After placement into the gap, the upper portion of the ring rests on the clip while the lower portion of the ring extends partially into the recess on the unitary surface. Since the lower portion of the ring is hidden from view below the unitary surface, indicia tags attached to the ring may be attached to the portion of the ring which extends through the recess, thereby keeping the indicia tag out of sight of consumers viewing the rings in the display tray.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to devices for storing and displaying articles of jewelry, and more particularly, to a unitarily molded display tray having a plurality of clips for retaining articles of jewelry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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.

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.

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.

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.

Accordingly, there is a need for a jewelry display tray employed to display and store articles of jewelry therein, and which avoids the disadvantages discussed above.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide a jewelry display apparatus in the form of a tray which can be used both for display purposes as well as storage purposes.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a jewelry display tray unitarily molded from a lightweight plastic material and which has a unitary surface provided with a plurality of clips molded with the unitary surface and extending from a plurality of recesses dispersed about the surface of the tray for displaying and retaining jewelry items such as rings thereon.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a jewelry display tray which permits storage and display of rings arranged thereon in a fashion in which indicia tags attached to the rings are hidden from sight while viewing the rings thereon and which facilitates presentation of the rings arranged thereon in a pleasing arrangement.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a jewelry display tray in which the rings arranged on the display tray are securely retained in place by the clips which are resiliently molded to the single-plane unitary surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a jewelry display tray in which the indicia tags are hidden from sight while viewing the rings thereon and may be viewed without having to remove the article of jewelry from the display tray by inverting the jewelry display tray.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a unitarily molded display tray for displaying articles of jewelry is provided having a unitary surface comprised of an upper face and a lower face. Dispersed upon the upper face of the unitary surface is a plurality of recesses, each recess having two sets of first and second opposite sides. These recesses are arranged in rows, columns or staggered fashion. Each recess is provided with a corresponding clip arranged upon the upper face of the unitary surface. Each clip is molded from the unitary surface and resiliently extends across to one of the first set of opposite sides. The clips extend from the first side of the first set of opposite sides of the recess and are raised above the upper face of the unitary surface to define a gap between the clip and the upper face of the unitary surface. The remaining side of the first set of opposite sides along with the second set of opposite sides define the boundaries of the recess which preferably has an area larger than the area of the clip for providing an adequate space into which the shank portion of a ring extends when the ring is attached to a clip on the unitary surface of the display tray. Since the shank portion of the ring rests in the recess when the ring is arranged on the display tray, this arrangement permits the indicia tag that is attached to the ring to be inserted through or pulled through the gap and thus kept hidden from the sight of a consumer viewing the display tray.

Utilizing this arrangement, when the jewelry salesperson needs to examine the information on the indicia tag, he or she may then remove the ring from the display tray or may simply raise and invert the display tray and view the indicia tag from the underside of the display tray. This construction may also be provided with sidewalls substantially perpendicular to the unitary surface to facilitate placement on certain surfaces and for permitting stacking of numerous display trays.

The above description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for the purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With initial reference toFIG. 1, the unitarily molded display tray10of the present invention is shown in its preferred embodiment. As illustrated, the display tray10is preferably comprised of a single-plane unitary surface12, that is preferably flat, and which has an upper face34and a lower face36, although the invention is not limited in scope in this respect. For example, surface12may comprise a multi-level surface depending on the user's requirements.

Display tray10may be configured for placement within a receptacle tray (not shown) configured to receive display tray10. Unitary surface12is provided with a plurality of recesses14dispersed about unitary surface12. Each recess14is further provided with a corresponding clip20unitarily molded with the single plane unitary surface12for retaining articles of jewelry within recesses14on display tray10.

Each recess14has a first set of opposite sides16aand16b, and a second set of opposite sides18aand18bto define its area. Clips20(described with greater detail with reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, discussed herein) are resiliently and integrally molded from one of the first set of opposite sides16a, and extend above upper face34of unitary surface12, above recess14, to define gaps22as shown inFIGS. 3,4and8A-8F between a terminal end21of clip20and opposite end16b. Recess14is preferably configured with its area being larger than the area of its respective clip20such that a ring24may be inserted within the clip20and be retained therein. Surface12and clips20are preferably molded from a lightweight plastic material, although other resilient or flexible materials may work equally well.

As illustrated in FIGS.1-8(F), one or more rings24are displayed and retained on the clips20provided on display tray10. As seen clearly inFIG. 1, ring24is generally comprised of a circular mass of precious metal such as gold, silver or platinum having a bore42through the mass of metal for the purpose of being worn on a person's finger. By placing ring24into one of the gaps22formed by the clips20, an upper portion38of ring24is positioned to be displayed on tray10while a lower or shank portion40(FIGS. 2,3and8A-8F) of ring24rests within the corresponding recess14of clip20such that ring24is securely retained on unitary surface12of display tray10. As illustrated inFIGS. 8A and 8D, an indicia tag26, attached to ring bore42, is placed through gap22. Next, ring shank14is slowly placed under clip20through gap22as seen inFIGS. 8B and 8E. Finally, as illustrated inFIGS. 8C and 8F, ring shank40of ring24is firmly secured for display, being pressed between clip20and the upper surface of recess14, with indicia tag26displayed on lower face36of surface12.

FIGS. 4-7illustrates lower face36of unitary surface12which is provided with a plurality of rings24arranged thereon, the lower portion40of ring24extending within recesses14. Furthermore,FIGS. 4-8illustrate indicia tags26attached to the lower portions40of rings24. The indicia tags26may be tied to ring24with string, adhesively attached with tape or looped around the lower portion40of the ring, although the invention is not limited in this respect. Indicia tags26generally contain information recorded thereon such as the composition of the ring24(e.g. gold, platinum, etc . . . ), the weight of the ring24(e.g. 14 kt, 18 kt, etc . . . ), the price, and an inventory number. Indicia tags26may also contain additional information as desired by the jewelry salesperson.

The upper portion of the ring38protrudes upward relative to the unitary surface12, while the lower portion of the ring40protrudes below the unitary surface12. However, clip20, frictionally retains the ring to opposite side walls18aand18bat a location between the upper and lower ring portions38,40. The indicia tag26, which is considered aesthetically displeasing to the arrangement of rings24on the unitary surface12, is attached to the lower ring portion40and is strategically extended below unitary surface12, through recess14, and out of sight of consumers viewing from above the rings24arranged in display tray10. Optionally, a felt pad (not shown) may be attached to unitary surface12so as to provide additional frictional engagement so as to secure ring24to the display tray10.

FIGS. 3 and 4illustrate a cross-sectional view of unitary surface12and provides a more detailed view of clips20. As shown inFIG. 4, clip20is unitarily molded from unitary surface12and extends from side16of recess14above upper face34of unitary surface12. Clip20is preferably configured with a upwardly slanting top portion44that extends coaxially above upper surface34of unitary surface12. The invention is not, however, limited in this respect and a curved top portion may work equally well.

The resilient nature of clip20facilitates removal of ring24from clip20by gently lifting clip20relative to surface12and sliding ring24out of recess14. After ring24is removed, clip20reverts to its original position. It is to be understood that the discussion with reference to clip20is equally applicable to all clips20arranged on unitary surface12.

FIGS.1and3-7illustrates unitary surface12provided with a continuous sidewall30extending substantially perpendicular to the unitary surface12and extending about the entire periphery of unitary surface12, and having upper portion32aand lower portion32b. Sidewall30may be configured to facilitate placement of display tray10on a surface and/or for making display tray10more aesthetically pleasing as a stand-alone display.

Sidewall30may be further configured to permit stacking of numerous display trays10upon each other. For instance, upper portion32aof sidewall30may be slanted inward to receive a display tray10stacked above it. Additionally, lower portion32bof sidewall30may be flared so as to be placed upon the inwardly slanted upper portion32aof another display tray. It is to be understood, that other configurations may also be utilized to permit numerous display trays10to be stacked upon each other. Moreover, a felt or velvet pad (not shown) may be provided on upper face34of unitary surface12. The pad provide additional retention along with clips20and additionally prevent the scratching or tarnishing of rings24which rest in the recesses14and interact with sides18aand18b.

It is to be appreciated that although the apparatus of the present invention has, been described with reference to retaining, displaying and storing rings, the apparatus may be configured to work equally well with other articles of jewelry such as bracelets, anklets, and watches.

It is to be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but that they are merely conceptual in nature.

It is to be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but that they are merely conceptual in nature.