Abstract:
The present invention comprises an apparatus that provides retailers with a highly flexible and attractive means to display their articles. The apparatus includes a collar ( 120 ) adapted to receive the article. The apparatus also includes a support member ( 130 ) adapted to releasably engage a receptor ( 131 ) in the collar ( 120 ). Finally, the apparatus includes a base ( 140 ) which is adapted to receive the support member ( 120 ). More specifically, the collar ( 120 ) has at least one receptor ( 132 ) that is not centrally located. In a further embodiment, the collar ( 120 ) receptor is geared to engage with a complimentary gear of the support member ( 130 ). In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method comprising three steps is disclosed for displaying articles. The method first mounts the article on a collar ( 120 ). The next step engages the collar ( 120 ) with a support member ( 130 ). The method then couples the support member ( 130 ) to a base ( 140 ). More specifically, the method further comprises mounting a securing tab ( 160 ) to secure the article. In a further embodiment, the method further comprises mounting a display marker.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the field of display devices for use in retail merchandising and more particularly to a method and apparatus for displaying articles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Retail merchandisers require an effective method of displaying and storing their articles, goods or merchandise, both to attract a customer&#39;s attention and to easily access the merchandise for customer examination. Articles such as watches or jewelry have typically been displayed in boxes. These are bulky and can display articles in a limited number of positions. This limits a retailers&#39; ability to display articles in a creative and attractive manner, as well as a customer&#39;s ability to view and inspect the article. 
     In an effort to overcome these disadvantages, display packaging was developed to display articles without the use of a box. This permitted a less bulky means for retailers to display articles. However, the packaging still limited the display to one viewing angle. The packaging also limited the types of articles which might be displayed to strap-type watches. 
     Yet another approach, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,557, provided for a modular design providing a collar that can be removed from a base. This modular design does not permit usage of various bases which are not adaptable to the collar. Another disadvantage to this approach is that it limits the display of articles to a vertical axis relative to the base. Finally, this approach does not provide a means to secure an article for display, while retaining the ease of removing the article from its position on the display device for examination by a customer. Therefore, a need has arisen for a new method and apparatus for displaying an article that overcomes the disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a method and an apparatus for displaying articles are provided which substantially eliminate or reduce the disadvantages and problems associated with prior devices that display articles. 
     The present invention comprises an apparatus that provides retailers with a highly flexible and attractive means to display their articles according to their needs. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an apparatus provides a means for displaying articles. The apparatus includes a collar adapted to receive the article. The apparatus also includes a support member adapted to releasably engage a receptor in the collar. Finally, the apparatus includes a base which is adapted to receive the support member. 
     In a further embodiment, the collar receptor is geared to engage with a complimentary gear of the support member. The apparatus also includes a support member having one end adapted to releasably engage the receptor, and a base for receiving a second end of the support member. 
     More specifically, the apparatus allows the collar to be engaged with the support member in a multiplicity of angular positions, or in a multiplicity of discrete positions. In another embodiment, the support member further comprises an end adapted to engage a base adaptor, the base adaptor further having an end adapted to engage the base. In yet another embodiment, the collar has a surface structure adapted to secure the article. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method comprising three steps is disclosed for displaying articles. The method first mounts the article on a collar. The next step engages the collar with a support member. The method then couples the support member to a base. More specifically, the method further comprises mounting a securing tab to secure the article. In a further embodiment, the method further comprises mounting a display marker. 
     A technical advantage of the present invention is a method of displaying articles in a way that is easily modifiable and reconfigurable, to serve a larger variety of retail needs, as dictated by changes in retailer inventory. Another technical advantage of the present invention is an apparatus for displaying articles which effectively secures the article to the apparatus. Another technical advantage of the present invention is an apparatus to display articles which can be configured to display the articles in a multiplicity of angular positions. Another technical advantage of the present invention is an apparatus for displaying articles where the collar may be engaged with the support member in a multiplicity of discrete positions. 
     A further technical advantage of the present invention is an apparatus for displaying articles where the collar has at least one receptor that enables the article to be displayed in both a horizontal and vertical axis relative to a base. Another technical advantage of the present invention is an apparatus for displaying articles which is adaptable to a wide variety of bases. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with e accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention in a perspective view, where the collar is positioned horizontally. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the collar of FIG. 1 showing a range of vertical positional angles in which the collar may be positioned. 
     FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the collar of FIG. 1 positioned vertically, where another embodiment of a base adapter may be used to engage with a base. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention with a base adaptor which may be used with a slot-wall, or as a self-standing base. 
     FIG. 5 shows the invention with securing tabs, supported by another embodiment of a base adaptor. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the invention with a base adaptor that may be used with a slat wall. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention and its advantages are best understood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the invention where a collar  120  adapted to receive an article such as a watch (not shown) for display is oriented in a horizontal position. Collar  120  is generally C-shaped with a centrally located receptor  121  and receptors  122 ,  123 , which are not centrally-located. Collar  120  is releasably engageable to a support member  130 . Support member  130  is releasably engageable to a base adaptor  150 . Base adaptor  150  is releasably engageable to bases  140  and  170 . Collar  120  has, by way of example, a ribbed surface structure  125  adapted to more securely display the article. 
     Support member  130  may be releasably engaged with receptors  121 ,  122 , and  123  in collar  120  in various angular positions to display the article in a variety of orientations. In the preferred embodiment, receptor  121  has a gear  127  to receive a first end  131  of support member  130 , which is complimentarily geared. Gear  127  and complimentarily geared first end  131  may be coupled together to collar  120  in a plurality of discrete angular positions. The first end  131  of support member  130  is adapted to releasably engage receptor  121 , but will remain securely positioned by friction. This may be accomplished, by way of example, by tapering complimentarily-geared first end  131  of support member  130  from a wider angle near neck  132  of support member  130  to a narrower end near receptor  135  of first end  131 . Other suitable, complimentarily-shaped geometric structures for receptor  121  and first end  131  of support member  130  may also be used to releasably couple support member  130  and collar  120 . 
     Support member  130  also has a second end  133  to releasably engage base adaptor  150 . Second end  133  of support member  130  is adapted to releasably engage with receptor  155  of base adaptor  150  by means of tapering to remain secured by friction. Support member  130  also has a seat  134  to assist in releasably engaging support member  130  to base adaptor  150 . First end  131  of support member  130  is generally offset from second end  133  by means of a neck  132 . Neck  132  also may have at least one generally flat side  136 . Neck  132  also may have a receptor  137 . In the preferred embodiment, support member  130  is generally s-shaped. 
     To further secure the article, a securing tab  160  may be releasably engaged with receptors  122 ,  123  in collar  120 . Securing tab  160  has a complimentary gear  161  to receptors  122 ,  123 , and is tapered similarly to the taper angle on support member  130  to remain secured by friction. Securing tab  160  includes a protrusion  162  which permits easy insertion and removal of security tab  160  into collar  120  as desired. Protrusion  162  also provides for securing of the article to collar  120 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, collar  120  may be manufactured using a thermoplastic polymer. This permits collar  120  to be flexible so that it may be compressed into a smaller diameter to, by way of example, fit watches that will fit a variety of wrist sizes. 
     In one embodiment, base adaptor  150  may be releasably coupled to base  140  or base  170 . Base adaptor  150  has a first end  154  which is adapted to be releasably engageable to support member  130  and two second ends  153  which are adapted to be releasably engageable to either base  140  or base  170 . Receptor  155  in first end  154  is offset from seat  151  to provide suitable space to releasably engage second end  133  of support member  130 . Receptor  155  is generally square shaped, but may have any suitable geometric configuration to releasably engage second end  133  of support member  130 , which is complimentarily shaped. Likewise, second ends  153  are tapered to releasably engage with receptors  145  of base  140 . Tapering from seat  151  of second ends  153  provides a means for releasably engaging second ends  153  into receptors  145  while retaining them securely by means of friction. Second ends  153  are generally square shaped complementarily to receptor  145 , but may be of any suitable geometric configuration. 
     In this embodiment, base  140  is generally rectangularly shaped with two receptors  145  to receive second ends  153  of base adaptor  150 . Base  140  has a height  142  that is both sufficient and suitable for receptor depth  145  to receive base adaptor  150  and to securely retain base adaptor  150  in place. Base  140  has a generally flat surface  141 . Base  140  may be generally configured to receive one or more base adaptors  330 , as illustrated in FIG.  3 . Configuring base  140  to receive base adaptor  330  permits collar  120  to be coupled with a variety of bases  140 . Base adaptor  330  is discussed in detail in conjunction with FIG.  3 . FIG. 3 also discusses in detail coupling of collar  120  to base adaptor  330 . 
     Base  170  is similarly adapted to receive second ends  153  of base adaptor  150 . Base  170  is generally rectangularly shaped, with a plurality of slots  175  recessed from surface  171  which are generally rectangularly shaped in order to receive complimentarily shaped second ends  153 . Second ends  153  of base adaptor  150  may be releasably engaged with slot  175  of base  170  and be securely held by friction. Base  170  has a generally flat surface  171  to securely fasten base adapter  150 . 
     It is within the scope of the invention to utilize various price tag or display marker configurations with the invention. By way of example, securing tab  160  may include receptor  165 , and support member  130  may include receptors  137  and  135 , respectively, adapted to receive one end of a price tag, which may be releasably inserted to receptors  165 ,  137  or  135  to display a price of the article. The end of the price tag may be tapered and complimentarily shaped to receptors  165  or  135  to releasably secure the price tag into receptor  165  of securing tab  160  or receptor  135  of support member  130 . Alternatively and also by way of example, the price tag may also be adhesive-backed such that it may be fastened to side  136  of support member  130 , or to a side  236  of a support member  230 , which is further described in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIGS. 2 through 5 illustrate the range of embodiments that may be achieved by coupling collar  120  to a variety of bases, using the teachings of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of collar  120  in a vertical position coupled to support member  230 , which demonstrates a range of discrete angles at which the collar may be positioned to provide various viewing perspectives. Collar  120  may be coupled to support member  230  at centrally-located receptor  121  or either of the non-centrally located receptors  122 ,  123  to provide a variety of vertical display configurations. 
     In the preferred embodiment, receptors  121 ,  122 , and  123  are geared to receive support member  230 , which has a complimentary gear. The gears are adapted to releasably engage with receptors  121 ,  122 , and  123 , but will remain securely positioned by friction. This may be accomplished, by way of example, by tapering the complimentary gear on support member  230  which is described in further detail in FIG.  3 . 
     In this embodiment, collar  120  has three receptors  121 ,  122 , and  123 , which are geared at equivalent gear ratios, as illustrated in FIG.  2 . The gears in receptor  123  are rotated relative to receptors  121  and  122  to provide additional discrete angles at which collar  120  may be positioned relative to support member  230 . A few of these discrete angles are illustrated in FIG. 2, where collar  120  is rotated about the axis of receptor  121 . Similarly, collar  120  may be engaged with support member  230  at receptor  122  or  123 . Collar  120  may be rotated about the axis of receptor  122  and positioned at a variety of discrete angles. Collar  120  may also be rotated about the axis of receptor  123 , which permits collar  120  to be oriented in an additional plurality of discrete angles that differ from those achieved by using receptor  122 , as a result of the relative rotation of gears in receptor  123 . Thus, collar  120  may be coupled to support member  230  in three pluralities of discrete angular positions at receptor  121 ,  122 , and  123 . 
     Support member  230  also has receptors  235  and  238  that may be adapted to receive one end of a price tag, which may be releasably inserted to receptor  235  or  238  to display the price of the article, as discussed in conjunction with FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the invention where support member  230  may be coupled to a base adaptor  330 . Support member  230  may be releasably engaged with receptors  121 ,  122 , and  123  of collar  120  in various angular positions to display the article in variety of orientations. As discussed in conjunction with FIG. 1, receptors  121 ,  122 , and  123  has gears to receive a first end  231  of support member  230 , which is complimentarily geared. Gear  127  and complimentarily geared first end  231  permit orientation of collar  120  in a plurality of discrete angular positions. Tapering of complimentarily geared first end  231  of support member  230  from a wider angle near leg  234  to a narrower end near end receptor  235  permits support member  230  to remain securely positioned to collar  120  by friction. The geared surface of first end  231  of support member  230  may become solid before abutting leg  234 . 
     First end  231  of support member  230  is offset from leg  234 , which extends to second end  233 . Leg  234  may have at least one generally flat side  236 , upon which an adhesive backed price tag may be fastened. Second end  233  of support member  230  is adapted to be releasably engageable to a variety of base adaptors by means of tapering to remain secured by friction. Such base adaptors include base adaptor  330 , as shown in FIG.  3 . Support member  230  also has a seat  237  to assist in releasably engaging support member  230  to base adaptor  330  at receptor  145 . Receptor  145  is generally square shaped, but may have any suitable geometrical configuration which may releasably engage second end  233  of support member  230 , which is complimentarily shaped. 
     Base adaptor  330  may be secured into a promotional display or other base, such as base  140  as depicted in FIG. 1, which is adapted to receive base adaptor  330 . In this embodiment, end  333  of base adaptor  330  is flexible to allow insertion of base adaptor  330  into a complementary receptor of a promotional display or other base, such as base  140 . By way of example, such a promotional display may be provided by a watch manufacturer desiring a selected arrangement of watches to be permanently displayed. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention that uses a base adaptor  430 . Base adaptor  430  is structured so that it may be secured into a slot wall  440 , or may be used as a self-standing base. Base adaptor  430  has a generally flat surface  438  to permit base adaptor  430  to serve as a self-standing base. Base adaptor  430  has a receptor  437  adapted to receive, for example, second end  233  of support member  230 , or second end  133  of support member  130 . Receptor  437  is generally square shaped, but may have any suitable geometric configuration which may releasably engage second end  133  of support member  130 , which is complimentarily shaped. Receptor  437  in first end  436  is offset from a seat  431  to provide suitable space to releasably engage second end  133  of support member  130 . Base adaptor  430  has seat  431  that may be generally flat, as well as adapted to securely engage a slot wall  440 . By way of example, structural textures such as ribbing may be introduced on seat  431  of adaptor  430  for more secure positioning into slot wall  440 . 
     Slot wall  440  is adapted to receive a structure such as seat  431  of adaptor  430 . Slot wall  440  is generally vertically oriented, with a plurality of slots  445  recessed from surface  447  that are generally rectangularly shaped in order to receive complimentarily shaped seat  431  of adaptor  430 . Ribbed surface  435  of seat  431  of base adaptor  430  may be releasably engaged with slot  445  of slot wall  440  and be securely held by friction. Slot wall  440  may be used with collar  120  in both a horizontal and vertical orientation by means of support members  130  and  230 , respectively, which provides for a variety of viewing angles and display configurations. 
     FIG. 5 shows the invention with securing tabs  160  and yet another base adaptor  530  and a molded base  540  adapted to receive base adaptor  530 . Base adaptor  530  is similarly releasably engageable to support member  130  and to base  540  as discussed in conjunction with FIGS. 1 through 3. Second end  133  of support member  130  is adapted to releasably engage with receptor  535  of base adaptor  530  by means of tapering to remain secured by friction. 
     Base adaptor  530  has first end  534  which is adapted to be releasably engageable to support member  130 , and a second end  533  which is adapted to be releasably engageable to base  540 . Receptor  535  in first end  534  is offset from seat  531  to provide suitable space to releasably engage second end  133  of support member  130 . Receptor  535  is generally square shaped, but may have any suitable geometric configuration which may releasably engage second end  133  of support member  130 , which is complimentarily shaped. Likewise, second end  533  is tapered to releasably engage with receptor  545  of base  540 . Tapering from seat  531  of second end  533  provides a means for releasably engaging second end  533  into receptor  545  while retaining second end  533  securely by means of a snap-lock fit. Second end  533  is generally rectangularly shaped, complimentarily to receptor  545 , but may be of any suitable geometric configuration. 
     Base  540  is generally rectangularly shaped and self-standing. By way of example, molded base  540  may be used for other display retail needs, such as rings on molded ring finger displays or other articles for sale. Base adaptor  530  thus permits molded base  540  to be used to display articles for which collar  120  is adapted. This enables retailers to utilize molded base  540  for a broader variety of needs. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the invention that uses a base adaptor  630 . Base adaptor  630  is structured so that it may be secured into a slatwall  640 , or may be used as a self-standing base. Base adaptor  630  has a generally flat surface  638  to permit base adaptor  630  to serve as a self-standing base. Base adaptor  630  has a receptor  635  adapted to receive, for example, second end  233  of support member  230  (as shown in FIG.  3 ), or second end  133  of support member  130  (as shown in FIG.  2 ). Receptor  635  is generally square shaped, but may have any suitable geometric configuration that may releasably engage second end  133  of support member  130 , which is complimentarily shaped. Receptor  635  in first end  634  is offset from seat  631  to provide suitable space to releasably engage second end  133  of support member  130 . 
     Slatwall  640  is generally vertically oriented, with a plurality of slats  645  recessed from surface  647  that are generally T-shaped. Slats  645  of slatwall  640  are adapted to receive complimentarily shaped second end  636  of adaptor  630 . Second end  636  of base adaptor  630  may be releasably engaged with slat  645  of slatwall  640  and be securely held by friction. In this embodiment, second end  636  is offset from seat  631  in a double-L-shape. Seat  632 , offset by the first L-shaped offset from seat  631 , provides a ledge for base adaptor  630  to be seated on slat  645  of slatwall  640 . Second end  636  has a depth  633  suitable to releasably engage the upper portion  646  of T-shaped slats  645  of slatwall  640 . Second end  636  may be offset from seat  631  in any other suitable manner to releasably engage slatwall  640 . 
     Slatwall  640  may be used with collar  120  in both a horizontal and vertical orientation by means of support members  130  and  230 , respectively, which provides for a variety of viewing angles and display configurations. By way of example, slatwall  640  may be used for other retail needs which utilize hanger brackets or wire hooks for displaying articles such as socks, or displaying articles on shelves. Base adaptor  630  thus permits slatwall  640  to be used to display articles for which collar  120  is adapted. This enables retailers to utilize slatwall  640  for a broader variety of needs. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described by the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.