Abstract:
In one embodiment of a ball mount display rack, the rack includes a panel and an elongated member extending from the panel. The elongated member includes a first end attached to the panel, a second end located distal from the panel, an exterior surface, and an interior surface. The interior surface of the elongated member is accessible from the second end of the member. The elongated member is adapted to receive ball mount such that when the ball mount is received, either a portion of the ball mount is in contact with at least a portion of the exterior surface or a portion of the ball mount is in contact with at least a portion of the interior surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This non-provisional application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/674,205, entitled “Display Rack,” filed Apr. 22, 2005, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to display racks and relates specifically to racks for displaying ball mounts.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0003]     Ball mounts refer to a variety of apparatus that are designed to connect or attach to vehicles to provide the vehicle with a mechanism for towing a trailer or other such equipment. Ball mounts normally include a mechanism for mounting a hitch ball to the ball mount. Ball mounts are normally constructed or fabricated from metal and can be heavy and cumbersome for consumers to handle and evaluate in a retail environment. These limitations are particularly evident when a hitch ball is secured to a ball mount.  
         [0004]     There exists a need for apparatus and methods that provide for conveniently displaying ball mounts in a retail environment to allow consumers to better compare and gauge the functionality and usefulness of various ball mounts.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention is directed to racks that display ball mounts. In one embodiment of a ball mount display rack, the rack includes a panel and an elongated member extending from the panel. The elongated member comprises a first end attached to the panel, a second end located distal from the panel, an exterior surface, and an interior surface. The interior surface of the elongated member is accessible from the second end of the member. The elongated member is adapted to receive a ball mount such that when the ball mount is received, either a portion of the ball mount is in contact with at least a portion of the exterior surface of the elongated member or a portion of the ball mount is in contact with at least a portion of the interior surface of the elongated member. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     In the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, embodiments of the invention are illustrated, which, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below serve to illustrate the principles of this invention. The drawings and detailed description are not intended to and do not limit the scope of the invention or the claims in any way. Instead, the drawings and detailed description only describe embodiments of the invention and other embodiments of the invention not described are encompassed by the claims.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a display rack arranged in accordance with the present invention and displaying ball mounts;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the display rack of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of the display rack of  FIG. 1  shown along the line  2 A- 2 A of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the display rack of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a back view of the display rack of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the display rack of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the display rack of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another display rack arranged in accordance with the present invention, including two sets of elongated members, and displaying ball mounts;  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the display rack of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of yet another display rack arranged in accordance with the present invention and including a slot along the elongated members;  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the display rack of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of yet another display rack arranged in accordance with the present invention for the display of ball mounts equipped with locking mechanisms; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of yet another display rack arranged in accordance with the present invention, including a slot along the elongated members, and arranged for the display of ball mounts equipped with locking mechanisms. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     The Detailed Description of the Invention merely describes preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims or specifications in any way. Indeed, the invention as described by the claims is broader than and unlimited by the preferred embodiments, and the terms in the claims and specifications have their full ordinary meaning.  
         [0021]     While the described embodiments herein are presented in the context of display racks for ball mounts, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention may be used to display a number of different items. The examples presented in this specification are intended to illustrate the broad application of the invention for display racks. The specific design and operation of the display racks selected provide no limitation on the present invention.  
         [0022]     An exemplary embodiment of a display rack  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1 through 6 . The display rack  10  is designed to hold and display a variety of ball mounts. Ball mounts generally take the form of structural members that includes a sleeve portion and a portion for mounting a hitch ball. The sleeve portion of a ball mount typically is generally rectangular and hollow and can be mated with and secured to a cooperatively shaped mating receiver on a vehicle. Once the ball mount is secured to the vehicle and a hitch ball is attached to the ball mount, a trailer or other such equipment can be attached to the hitch ball such that the equipment may be towed by the vehicle.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the exemplary embodiment includes a left side panel  12 , a right side panel  14 , a back panel  16 , and a series of wire portions  18  joined together to form a top panel  20 . The panels  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  20  are coupled together to form a generally rectangular and rigid structure that may be hung as a display rack  10 . The structure is capable of maintaining its shape under relatively moderate to heavy loads caused by displaying objects in the rack  10 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , a series of elongated members  22  extend from the back panel  16 . The elongated members  22  are arranged to support and hold items or objects, such as retail ball mounts displayed in the rack  10 .  
         [0024]     The elongated members  22  are tubes that have generally thin-walled rectangular cross-sections. Each tube  22  has a first end  24  that is coupled or otherwise attached to the back panel  16  and a second end  26  that is distal to the back panel  16  and is generally unencumbered by any attachments or couplings. The tubes  22  can be arranged such that the tubes  22  extend generally perpendicular to the back panel  16 . Alternatively, as best seen in  FIG. 2A , the tubes  22  can be arranged to extend at an inclined angle α such that the second ends  26  of the tubes  22  are relatively higher than the first ends  24  of the tubes  22 . Under certain conditions, the inclined arrangement of the tubes  22  with respect to the back panel  16  may make it less likely that items or objects displayed on or in the tubes  22  are unintentionally removed, knocked off, or otherwise displaced from the tubes  22 .  
         [0025]     The exemplary tubes  22  of  FIGS. 1 through 6  are hollow and thin-walled and designed to mate with or otherwise accommodate the sleeve portion of a ball mount. Each tube  22  includes an outer surface  28  and an inner surface  30 . The inner surface  30  is accessible from an opening  32  at the second end  26  of the tube  22 . Depending on the cross-sectional size of a ball mount, a ball mount sleeve may either slide inside a tube  22  or slide over a tube  22 .  
         [0026]     As seen in  FIG. 1 , a first ball mount  34  can include a sleeve portion  36  with a relatively small cross-section that is accommodated by a tube  22  when the sleeve portion  36  is slid into the tube  22 . This arrangement places a portion of the ball mount  34  in contact with a portion of the inner surface  30  of the tube  22 . A second ball mount  38  can include a sleeve portion  40  with a relatively large cross-section that is accommodated by the tube  22  when the sleeve portion  40  is slid over the tube  22 . This places a portion of the ball mount  38  in contact a portion of the outer surface  28  of the tube  22 . As described above and illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a hollow, thin-walled construction of a tube  22  allows the tube  22  to accommodate multiple ball mount  34  and  38 .  
         [0027]     As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the side panels  12  and  14  can be equipped with a series of hooks  42 . Such hooks  42  can be used, for example, to mount the display rack  10  directly into preformed holes in a wall or onto a track (not shown) that can be either free standing or attached to a wall. Hooks  42  allow for efficient exchanging, relocating, and mounting of the display rack  10 . Although the exemplary embodiment illustrates and discusses hooks as a method of securing the display rack  10 , it should be understood that any method of securing a display rack is included in this invention. For example, a display rack can be integrated into a cabinet, stand or other such support structure, or a display rack can include a series of apertures through which fasteners are passed to secure the display rack to a wall, rail system or other vertical surface.  
         [0028]     As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the display rack  10  can also be equipped with a channeled display panel  44  running generally horizontally and perpendicularly to the top panel  20 . The channeled display panel  44  can be designed and fabricated to hold information regarding objects, items, or products for sale displayed in the display rack  10 . For example, information cards (not shown) including universal product code (UPC) labels, or any other information that may be useful for a consumer, may be displayed in the channeled display panel  44 . In the exemplary embodiment, the display panel  44  includes an upper horizontal portion  46  and a lower horizontal portion  48  bent inward to form a track into which an information card, for example, can be inserted. Once inserted, a card with product information can be horizontally positioned above the corresponding product in the display rack  10 .  
         [0029]     The channeled display panel  44  together with the top panel  20  can form a shelf  50  for storing or displaying additional items. The channeled display panel  44  can be secured to the top  20  and side  12  and  14  panels in such a manner that the channeled display panel  44  forms a vertical barrier that may restrain items from rolling or falling off the front of the shelf  50 . The side panels  12  and  14  can be attached to the top panel  20  such that portions of the side panels  12  and  14  form vertical barriers to restrain objects from falling from the sides of the shelf  50 . The wire sections  18  that comprise the top panel  20  can include bent portions  52  at the rear of the top panel  20  to form another vertical barrier to restrain objects from falling from the back of the shelf  50 .  
         [0030]     Although the top panel  20  is illustrated as a series of joined wire sections  18 , one skilled in the art will recognize that the top panel  20  can be fabricated in a variety of ways and from a variety of materials. For example, a top panel can be constructed from a solid metal sheet similar to the side  12  and  14  and back  16  panels; from a wood based product, such as particle board; or from a polymeric material capable of providing the necessary structural integrity.  
         [0031]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate another embodiment of a display rack  60  in accordance with the present invention. This embodiment includes two sets or series of elongated members or tubes extending from the back panel  16 . Both sets of tubes  62  and  64  are identical, with the exception of certain physical dimensions. A first set of tubes  62  have a cross-section that has a smaller height and width than a second set of tubes  64 . The length of the first set of tubes  62  is generally equal to the length of the second set of tubes  64 . As will be discussed, the difference in cross-sectional size of the two sets of tubes  62  and  64  allows the display rack  60  to accommodate and hold a relatively large number of different sized items or objects. The purpose of varying dimensions of tubes  62  and  64  is to provide flexibility and variety in the types of products that can be displayed in a rack  60 .  
         [0032]     Similar to the embodiment described above and illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , both sets of tubes  62  and  64  have generally rectangular cross-sections. Each tube  62  and  64  has a first end  66  and  68 , respectively, which is coupled to the back panel  16  and a second end  70  and  72 , respectively, which is distal to the back panel  16  and terminates in free space. The tubes  62  and  64  can be arranged to extend perpendicularly from the back panel  16  or arranged to extend from the back panel  16  at an incline.  
         [0033]     In the exemplary illustration of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the smaller tubes  62  are fabricated from #16 gage metal and have internal widths and heights of approximately 1.31 inches. The external height and width are each approximately 1.43 inches. With such dimensions, the small tubes  62  can accommodate a class 3 ball mount  74  when the sleeve  76  of the ball mount  74  is slid over the tube  62 . Such a class 3 ball mount sleeve  76  typically has an internal width and internal height of approximately 1.50 inches. The small tube  62  can also accommodate a class 2 ball mount  78  when the sleeve  80  of the ball mount  78  is slid inside the tube  62 . A class 2 ball mount sleeve  80  typically has an outer height and width of approximately 1.25 inches. The larger tubes  64  can serve a similar function for larger ball mounts. The dimensions as described are merely exemplary and the invention is not limited in any way to such dimensions. Any suitable dimensions that permit embodiments of the invention to operate as described herein are within the scope of the invention.  
         [0034]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate another embodiment of the channeled display panel  82 . In this exemplary embodiment, the channeled display panel  82  includes a pair of channels, an upper channel  84  and a lower channel  86 . Both channels  84  and  86  run horizontally and parallel to the top panel  20 . The inclusion of two channels  84  and  86  can increase the amount of information presented above objects, items, or products displayed in the rack  60 . Any number of channels can be used in the practice of the present invention.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate yet another embodiment of a display rack  90  arranged in accordance with the present invention. Similar to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the rack  90  includes a set or series of small tubes  92  and a set or series of large tubes  94 . In this embodiment each tube  92  and  94  includes a longitudinal slot  96  and  98 , respectively. The slots  96  in the small tubes  92  are defined by two approximately parallel surfaces  100  and  102  running longitudinally along the tube  92 . The slots  98  in the large tubes  94  are defined by two approximately parallel surfaces  104  and  106  running longitudinally along the tube  94 . The longitudinal slots  96  and  98  can be dimensioned to accommodate features of ball mount that may interfere with a tube that includes a solid cross-section. The longitudinal slots  92  and  94  extending along a tube  92  and  94  can be designed and dimensioned to accommodate specific features on ball mounts. For example, ball mounts can include portions of a locking mechanism that can be accommodate by the slots  96  and  98 . Although the tubes  92  and  94  are illustrated with longitudinal slots  96  and  98  running along a corner of a rectangular tube  92  and  94 , this arrangement is exemplary only. A slot or any other opening can be incorporated into a tube to accommodate unique features of ball mounts to be displayed on a display rack. The slots  96  and  98  also allow for other manufacturing techniques for the tubes  92  and  94  as compared to tubes with a complete cross-section.  
         [0036]     Yet another embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 11 . In this embodiment, a rack  110  includes a set of small tubes  112  and a set of large tubes  114 . Each tube  112  and  114  include a pair of apertures  116  though the vertical walls of the tubes  112  and  114 . The tubes  112  and  114  and apertures  116  are designed to accommodate ball mounts with locking mechanisms. One example of such a ball mount is the integral locking coupler disclosed in U.S. published application 2004/0240934A1, filed on May 28, 2004, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Ball mounts of this type may have locking mechanisms which generally incorporate a pair of engagement pins in the ball mount sleeve to mate with apertures in a receiver. This mating can secure the ball mount sleeve to the receiver, and thus, secure the ball mount to a vehicle. The apertures  116  in the tubes  112  and  114  can be designed to simulate the apertures in a receiver attached to a vehicle. This arrangement allows and moreover invites the consumer to experiment with the engagement and locking mechanisms on a tube  112  and  114  in a display rack  110  in the retail location. The illustration of  FIG. 11  is designed specifically for the integral locking coupler disclosed in U.S. published application 2004/0240934A1; however, the tube can be designed to accommodate any ball mount with a locking mechanism, allowing a consumer to test and experiment with the locking mechanism of any ball mount.  
         [0037]      FIG. 12  illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment a display rack  120  includes two sets of tubes  122  and  124 . Each of the tubes  122  and  124  includes a longitudinal slot  126  and a pair of apertures  128 . This arrangement allows for the accommodation of a large variety of ball mounts. Including ball mounts of different cross-sectional sizes, ball mounts with locking mechanisms, and ball mounts with unique features to be accommodated by the longitudinal slot.  
         [0038]     While various aspects of the invention are described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects may be realized in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects and features of the invention, such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, devices, and so on may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the aspects, concepts or features of the invention into additional embodiments within the scope of the present invention even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the invention may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present invention however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated