Abstract:
Apparatus for displaying a plurality of objects having an exterior surface that is hidden from view when mounted for operational use and an interior surface that is exposed for view when mounted for operational use, the apparatus for displaying being mounted on a generally horizontal floor, the apparatus comprising: two or more shelves arranged on an upright display frame, wherein the shelves include a mounting platform for mounting one or more of the plurality of objects such that both the exterior and interior surfaces of the objects are readily visible to the eye of a subject; wherein the two or more shelves are arranged in adjacent series in a stepped front to back and top to bottom arrangement on the upright display frame.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/469,625 filed May 8, 2003 for Display Apparatus and Method. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to display racks, bins, bays and the like and more particularly to upright display apparati for displaying objects for sale from a relatively high top end to a floor or bottom end wherein a series of objects are arranged in series from both top to bottom and from side to side and wherein an exterior and portion of the object that is not normally visible when mounted for normal use and an interior portion are both visible when mounted in the display apparatus.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Certain functional objects such as recessed lighting fixtures are normally intended to be mounted such that the exterior housing for the bulb of the fixture is embedded within a ceiling, wall, floor or other surface and is not visible. Retailers, particularly retail store operators who display such goods for viewing and inspection by prospective customers in a retail sale environment typically arrange the fixtures for display in a straight side to side fashion on a shelf or series of shelves arranged in vertical series one directly on top of the other.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    In accordance with the invention there is provided an apparatus for displaying a plurality of objects having an exterior surface that is hidden from view when mounted for operational use and an interior surface that is exposed for view when mounted for operational use, the apparatus for displaying being mounted on a generally horizontal floor, the apparatus comprising: two or more shelves arranged on an upright display frame, wherein the shelves include a mounting platform for mounting one or more of the plurality of objects such that both the exterior and interior surfaces of the objects are readily visible to the eye of a subject; wherein the two or more shelves are arranged in adjacent series in a stepped front to back and top to bottom arrangement on the upright display frame.  
           [0005]    The shelves can be supported in the stepped arrangement on a bar, rod or strut, the bar rod or strut being disposed at an angle to the floor. Each shelf can be independently mounted on the bar, rod or strut such that each shelf is readily mountable to and dismountable from the bar, rod or strut. In such an embodiment, each shelf typically comprises a front portion and a rear portion independently mountable on the bar, rod or strut along a common generally horizontal front to back space. The upright display frame comprises a master frame having the bar, rod or strut attached to the master frame at an angular disposition relative to the floor.  
           [0006]    In an embodiment where the shelves are independently mountable, one of the upright display frame and the shelves can have a connector and the other of the upright display mechanism and the shelves can have a receipt mechanism, the connector being readily receivable within and readily removable from the receipt mechanism.  
           [0007]    In another embodiment, the two or more shelves can be fixedly attached to each other forming a unitary structure. The unitary structure can be readily mountable on and readily removable from the upright display frame. The unitary structure can also be fixedly attached to the upright display frame.  
           [0008]    Preferably, each shelf comprises a subframe defining an interior shelf space, each subframe including a step frame for mounting one or more of the plurality of objects such that the exterior surface of the one or more objects is disposed substantially within the interior shelf space, the subframe including a window frame that defines a window for viewing the one or more objects mounted within the interior shelf space.  
           [0009]    Preferably, one of the shelves is disposed at a vertically highest and horizontally most forward position relative to the other shelves, the other shelves being disposed in sequentially more rearward positions from top to bottom.  
           [0010]    Each shelf preferably comprises a subframe that defines an interior shelf space for each shelf, the subframe supporting walls that enclose the interior shelf space. Each subframe defines an interior shelf space, each subframe including a step frame for mounting one or more of the plurality of objects such that the exterior surface of the one or more objects is disposed substantially within the interior shelf space, the subframe including a window frame that defines a window for viewing the one or more objects mounted within the interior shelf space.  
           [0011]    At least one of the shelves includes a window frame that includes a receiving mount into which a window is readily insertable and readily removable. The window has upper and lower edges, the receiving mount having upper and lower flange mechanisms into which upper and lower edges of the window are readily receivable and removable. The window typically comprises a bendable polymeric material such that that window can be bent into receiving engagement with the receiving mount of the window frame.  
           [0012]    Further in accordance with the invention there is provided, an apparatus for displaying a plurality of objects having an exterior surface that is hidden from view when mounted for operational use and an interior surface that is exposed for view when mounted for operational use, the apparatus for displaying being mounted on a generally horizontal floor, the apparatus comprising:  
           [0013]    two or more shelves mounted on an upright display frame, wherein the shelves include a mounting platform for mounting one or more of the plurality of objects such that both the exterior and interior surfaces of the objects are readily visible to the eye of a subject;  
           [0014]    wherein the two or more shelves are each separately readily mountable to and removable from the upright display frame in adjacent series in a stepped front to back and top to bottom arrangement on the upright display frame.  
           [0015]    Further in accordance with the invention there is provided, an apparatus for displaying a plurality of objects having an exterior surface that is hidden from view when mounted for operational use and an interior surface that is exposed for view when mounted for operational use, the apparatus for displaying being mounted on a generally horizontal floor, the apparatus comprising:  
           [0016]    two or more shelves mounted on an upright display frame, wherein the shelves include a mounting platform for mounting one or more of the plurality of objects such that both the exterior and interior surfaces of the objects are readily visible to the eye of a subject;  
           [0017]    wherein the two or more shelves are fixedly attached to each other forming a unitary structure of shelves arranged in adjacent series in a stepped front to back and top to bottom arrangement on the upright display frame.  
           [0018]    In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for displaying objects having an exterior surface and an interior surface on an upright display frame mounted on a generally horizontal floor surface, the method comprising:  
           [0019]    mounting the objects on a series of platforms arranged in a series of stepped top to bottom and front to back shelves wherein the shelves are mounted or attached to the upright display frame and wherein the shelves have a window frame for viewing an interior space of the shelves along a generally horizontal orientation;  
           [0020]    mounting the objects on the platforms such that the exterior surface of the objects are substantially disposed within the interior space of the shelves.  
           [0021]    The invention also provides an apparatus for displaying a plurality of objects, the apparatus being mounted on a generally horizontal floor and comprising:  
           [0022]    two or more shelves arranged on an upright display frame for mounting the one or more of the plurality of objects wherein the two or more shelves are arranged in adjacent series in a stepped front to back and top to bottom arrangement on the upright display frame;  
           [0023]    each shelf having a window frame for mounting a window of a selected length, the window frame having upper and lower window mounts each having interference extensions spaced apart a distance that is less than the length of the window. The upper and lower window mounts typically comprise flange mechanisms having slots defined by the interference extensions, the slots receiving upper and lower edges of the window, the interference extensions maintaining the upper and lower edges of the window within the slots by interference against movement of the window in a horizontal direction.  
           [0024]    The upper and lower interference extensions each have a length, the length of the upper interference extension is preferably greater than the length of the lower interference extension. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    The above and further advantages of the invention may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a side isometric view of one embodiment of a display apparatus according to the invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is a side isometric view of a subassembly of the FIG. 1 apparatus showing a top rail for mounting a lower hanging frame on which stepped shelves of the apparatus are removably mounted;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 is a side isometric exploded view of the frame and shelf components of the FIG. 1 apparatus;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 is a side isometric exploded view of a portion of the FIG. 1 apparatus showing mounting brackets for removably mounting front and back components of the shelf components of the apparatus;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of the frame of the FIG. 1 apparatus showing the arrangement of the shelf mounting brackets relative to front and back components of a shelf when they are mounted on the brackets;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 5 a  is a side schematic cross-sectional view of a shelf having flange mounts for a window showing the relative lengths of the window and the interference components of the flange mounts;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 6 is longitudinal sectional view taken along lines  6 - 6  of FIG. 5;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 7 is a side isometric view of another embodiment of a display apparatus according to the invention where a series of individual stepped shelves are formed as an integral structure for attachment to the upright supports of a display bay structure;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 8 is a side isometric exploded view of the FIG. 7 apparatus;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 9 is a side cross sectional view of the FIG. 7 apparatus;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of a rear portion of the FIG. 7 apparatus having an extension rail for mounting the shelf substructure in selectively variable front back spaced arrangement on the rail supports of a bay structure. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0037]    [0037]FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a display apparatus  10  according to the invention where the individual shelves  27 ,  37 ,  47 , FIGS. 2, 3 are independently mountable on and removable from the apparatus  10 . In an alternative embodiment described below with reference to FIGS. 7-10, the plurality of shelves are constructed as a unitary structure.  
         [0038]    In the FIGS. 1-6 embodiment, planar shelve platforms  20 ,  30 ,  40  have a series of horizontally spaced apertures  21 ,  31 ,  41 , FIG. 3, that respectively receive and mount recessed lighting fixtures  28  in horizontally spaced series. The shelves  20 ,  30 ,  40  are mounted on frames  23 ,  33 ,  43  respectively which are in turn mounted on or attached to a mounting bar  48  that is fixedly and mounted at a slanted angle R, FIG. 2, which is less than 90 degrees relative to a generally horizontal ground surface  12 . Slanted or tilted mounting bar  48  is typically a component of a larger frame substructure  11  that is mounted within a larger retail store bay structure or master frame  5  via overhead mounting struts  50 .  
         [0039]    As shown in FIG. 1, the shelves  20 ,  30 ,  40  are mounted and arranged such that the underside planar faces  24 ,  34 ,  44  of the shelves  20 ,  30 ,  40  are horizontally offset from each other in series and vertically spaced apart from each other in substantially vertically parallel serial arrangement such that the overall arrangement effect for viewing purposes is that the shelves are arranged in a “stepped” series from top to bottom and front to back thus allowing a consumer viewing the display apparatus  10  to readily view/see both the exterior housings  22  of the lighting fixtures  28 ,  38 ,  48  as well as the underside surfaces and/or interior recesses  290  of the fixtures or objects  28 . As shown in the FIGS. 1-6 embodiment, the shelves are arranged such that the top shelf  27 , FIG. 2, is disposed most forward relative to the other serially lower disposed shelves  37 ,  47 , the lower shelves  37 ,  47  being serially or sequentially offset rearwardly as shown. In an alternative embodiment, the lowermost shelf  47  can be disposed or mounted forwardmost relative to the upper shelves with the upper shelves,  37 ,  27  being serially offset in a rearward direction in a similarly stepped manner.  
         [0040]    The frame substructure  11 , of the FIGS. 1-6 embodiment, is rigidly attached to the upright struts of the bay frame  5  by conventional means such as bolts, welding, brackets or the like (not shown) such that the entire assembly of stepped shelves is securely mounted as shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the frame substructure can be mounted on the bay frame  5  by means of an overhead strut  50  that is bolted to frame struts  52 , FIG. 2. Overhead strut  50  is mounted on top of cross beams  54  of bay frame  5  and attached to the beams  54  by conventional means such as bolts, welding or the like (not shown) such that the shelf assembly is securely mounted. Other means of securely attaching the shelf assembly to bay frame  5  may be employed, e.g. by attaching slanted strut  48  to the vertical beams of bay frame  5 . In the embodiment shown, the use of overhead strut  50  to mount the subassembly of shelves on bay frame  5  better enables the apparatus to be constructed as a modular, readily portable and shippable subassembly (e.g. the subassembly of parts  11 ,  27 ,  37 ,  47 ) that is readily mountable by conventional bolt or other means on a bay structure  5  and readily removable therefrom.  
         [0041]    In the FIGS. 1-6 embodiment each shelf comprises a front section and a rear section which when both mounted form an enclosed shelf  27 ,  37 ,  47  each having an enclosed interior space, e.g.  27   m ,  27   mm  enclosed by upper, lower and side walls (e.g.  27   I ,  27   II , FIG. 4) and the bottom disposed mounting platforms  20 ,  30 ,  40 . For example shelf  27  comprises front or forward section  27   a  and rear or back section  27   b , FIGS. 3, 4,  5 . The front and rear sections are each separately mounted to slanted strut  48  via pins  29   a ,  29   b  projecting from brackets  29   c  that are fixedly attached to strut  48 . The pins  29   a ,  29   b , FIGS. 4, 6, are slidably insertable through apertures  31   a ,  31   b  provided within flanges on the edges of the frames of sections  27   a , and  b  respectively. The pins  29   a, b  each have cylindindrical neck sections  29   aa ,  29   bb  that slide through slots  31   aa ,  31   bb  such that the pin heads  29   a ,  29   b  hold the front and rear shelf sections  27   a, b  via the slots  31   aa, bb  in place on the brackets  29   c . The flanges  27   c  are readily mountable on and dismountable or removable from the pins  29   a, b  and thus to and from the slanted strut  48  of frame  11 . As best shown in FIG. 3, the front and rear sections of each shelf, e.g.  27   a, b , occupy a common front to back horizontally extending space  27   j  when mounted such that when a subject is standing on the floor  12 , the subject can view objects mounted within the interior of the shelves along a generally horizontal, front to back level or orientation. The same is true with respect to the unitary shelf structure embodiment shown and described in FIGS. 7-10.  
         [0042]    Each shelf comprises a subframe structure, e.g.  27   k ,  27   kk , FIG. 3 or  127   k , FIG. 7 that supports side walls, e.g.  27   I ,  27   II  that surround and define an interior shelf space, e.g.  27   m ,  27   mm  in which the objects  28  are enclosed or housed when the apparatus is fully assembled. The subframe, e.g.  27   k , FIGS. 3, 4, or  127   k , FIG. 7 defines and includes a generally horizontally disposed step-like portion, e.g.  27   p , FIGS. 3, 4 or  147   p , FIG. 7, comprised of rails or struts that mount the platforms, e.g.  20 , FIG. 4, that support the objects, e.g.  28  within the interior space, e.g.  27   m , of the shelves, e.g.  27 , FIGS. 1-6. As shown, e.g. in FIGS. 4, 5 the shelf platforms  20 ,  30 ,  40  are slidable into/onto flange portions of step frame struts  27   p  so as to be supported and arranged in a generally horizontal plane whereby the platforms are positioned to support an object within the interior space  27   m  of the shelf  27 . The subframe structure of each shelf, e.g.  27 , also includes a window frame, e.g.  27   r , FIGS. 3, 4 or  127   r ,  147   r  FIGS. 7, 8 that defines a forward facing window area and includes struts  27   r ,  127   r ,  147   r  that support a window  70  that is mounted within upper  80   a  and lower  80   b  flanges that are attached to the upper and lower edges of each window frame as best shown in FIGS. 4, 5,  5   a ,  7 . The window  70  is typically comprised of a bendable polymeric material such that the window  70  can be bent to a position  70   a  as shown in FIG. 5 whereby an upper or lower edge of the window can be first inserted within the space of a mounting flange, e.g.  80   a , and the other edge then pushed inwardly  70   c  into position toward the window frame so that the other edge may be inserted into the space of another mounting flange, e.g.  80   b , FIG. 5. The window frame, e.g.  27   r ,  127   r , may be windowless or otherwise left blank, the window frame defining a forward or front most disposed aperture for viewing of the interior enclosed space of a shelf by a subject standing on the floor  12 .  
         [0043]    In embodiments that include a window, the mounting flanges  80   a ,  80   b  are of unequal depth, the upper flange  80   a  being deeper than flange  80   b  so that when the window  70  is fully seated within both flanges as shown in FIG. 5, the upper edge of the window  70  will not float or drift leftwardly (as shown in FIG. 5, 5 a ) and will be held within the upper flange  80   a  space, the lower edge of the window  70  being seated on the lower surface of flange  80   b  such that the window  70  is held and supported in a vertical position. As shown, FIGS. 5-7, the window  70  has a length Z that is greater than the distance X between the upper  80   c  and lower  80   d  lips or edges of the flanges such that when the window  70  is inserted within the flanges the window cannot drift leftwardly/forwardly out of its position within the mounting spaces  80   e ,  80   f  of the flanges due to the interference that flanges  80   a ,  80   b  present against the window  70  having a length Z that is longer than the interference flange distance X. As shown, FIG. 5 a , The window  70  is insertable into the flange spaces  80   e ,  80   f , by first inserting the upper edge of the window upwardly into space  80   e  to the uppermost edge  80   g  which enables the bottom edge of the window  70  to be moved rightwardly past bottom lip  80   d  because the distance Y is geater than the length Z of the window  70 . Once so positioned, the bottom edge of the window  70  is then allowed to drop by gravity to the bottom support surface of lower flange  80   b  and the window is then held in ambient position from drifting or moving leftwardly out of the flange spaces  80   e ,  80   f  because the interference distance between the bottom support surface of flange  80   b  and upper flange lip  80   c  is less than the length Z of window  70 . In summary Z&lt;Y, Z&gt;X and Z&gt;T.  
         [0044]    Each shelf structure is most preferably provided with access within its interior space to a distribution source of electrical power. As shown for example in FIGS. 2-5, an electrical power distribution mechanism  110  having plugs  110   a  is mounted in the rear half section, e.g.  27   b , of each shelf so that an object can be readily electrically connected after mounting within the interior space of the shelf to a source of electrical power as shown for example in phantom in FIG. 5 by electrically conductive wire  110   b  or other conventional mechanisms that can electrically interconnect a power source and an object  22  that contains an electrically powered mechanism requiring power, e.g. a light bulb. The power strip  110  is preferably mounted in an inconspicuous location in a rearwardly disposed location of the interior space of a shelf. As shown in the FIGS. 7-10 embodiment, power distribution strips  111  are mounted on the interior surface of a rear wall  121  of the unitary multiple shelf structure  300 , the single set of power distribution mechanisms being accessible for interconnection to objects mounted on the platforms  20 ,  30 ,  40  in all of the plurality of shelves  127 ,  137 ,  147  of the unitary shelf apparatus  300 . As shown, the power distribution outlet or strip  110 ,  111  is typically interconnected by conventional wire or other means  112  to an external source of electrical power  302 , FIGS. 5, 8,  9  that is physically located external to the interior space of the shelves  27 - 37 ,  127 - 147 . Alternatively, the power distribution outlets  110 ,  111  may be battery powered where the battery is located or contained within the power outlet  110 ,  111  itself or otherwise within the interior space of the shelves.  
         [0045]    With reference to FIGS. 7-10, there is shown a multiple shelf assembly  300  that is unitary in structure where the subframes  127   k, r ,  137   k,r ,  147   k,r  of each of the plurality of shelves  127 ,  137 ,  147  are rigidly connected or attached to each other forming a single unitary structure that is mounted on or attached to the upright bay struts  5 . As shown, the unitary structure  300  includes top  304 , side  306  and back  308  walls attached or otherwise rigidly interconnected to the top and side edges of subframes  127   k,r ,  137   k,r  and  147   k,r  and rear wall plate  121 , FIG. 8, that is attached to a rearward mounting flange extension  124  of the side and top walls. The walls  121 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308  enclose the unitary structure  300  such that each shelf has an interior space  127   m - 147   m . Rear plate wall  121  typically includes ventilation apertures  123 . Each shelf has its own subframe comprising a step  127   k - 147   k  and a window  127   r - 147   r , FIGS. 7, 8 and each shelf has its own mounting platforms  20 ,  30 ,  40 .  
         [0046]    In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-8, the unitary frame structure  300  is mounted on the upright bay frame  5   a ,  5   b  by attachment of the upper front edge of shelf  127  to a horizontal strut  250  by conventional means such as bolts  252 , the strut  250  which is in turn attached by conventional means to the front upright strut  5   a  of the bay frame structure. The rear of the unitary frame  300  is mounted on a rear horizontal strut  254  via brackets  256  that are attached to the rear plate  308  by conventional means such as bolts  258 .  
         [0047]    The unitary frame structure  300  may alternatively be mounted to the upright bay frame struts  5   a ,  5   b  such that the structure  300  is selectively positionable both vertically and horizontally along the length of and between bay frame struts  5   a ,  5   b . With reference to FIGS. 9, 10 the front upper edge of shelf  127  is attached to bracket  270  which is in turn attached to front bay strut  5   a . Similarly rear wall  308  is attached to rear bracket  315  which is in turn attached to rear bay strut  5   b . The front  270  and rear  315  brackets can be attached at any desired vertical position along the lengths of front  5   a  and rear  5   b  bay struts. In the FIG. 9 embodiment, the width or depth w1 of the unitary shelf structure  300  is about the same as the depth of the distance between bay struts  5   a ,  5   b . In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 10, where the depth of the unitary shelf structure  300  and the depth between the bay frame struts w2 are different, the mounting brackets can be provided with a mounting bar, rod or strut  317  that is attached to and between the rear mounting bracket  315  and the rear wall  308  of the unitary shelf structure  300 . The mounting bar, rod or strut  317  can be selected to be of any desired length so as to mount the unitary shelf structure  300  on the bay frame  5   a ,  5   b  such that the window frame of the forwardmost shelf, e.g. shelf  127 , is disposed in approximately the same or a closely adjacent plane as/to the plane formed by the front bay struts  5   a . As shown, the spacer mounting strut  317  is attached at either distal end by conventional means, e.g. welding, to intermediary mounting plates  322 ,  324  that are in turn attached by conventional means, such as bolt means  322   a ,  324   a , to rear plate  308  and rear bracket  315 .  
         [0048]    In each embodiment of the invention, the shelves are disposed in a stepped arrangement on the bay frame structure where one shelf is both forwardmost and either lowermost or highermost relative to the other shelves, the mounting platforms of each adjacent shelf being serially set off from each other in the horizontal direction and serially set off from each other in the vertical direction.