Abstract:
A bracket for supporting and displaying a planar object comprises an elongated body member including a planar web and a front wall and a rear wall extending from the longitudinal edges of the web. An end wall extends transversely with respect to and engages the distal ends of the web, the front wall and the rear wall such that the web and the front and rear walls and the end wall define a longitudinal channel open at the proximal end and closed at the distal end for supporting the objects. A pair of arms extend rearwardly from the body member. At least one of the arms is resiliently deflectable for engagement and retention of the lugs in an aperture of a mounting substrate. During connection, lugs on the arms are adapted to engage the portion of the mounting substrate defining the aperture for moving the arms inwardly so that the lugs pass through the aperture for permitting the arms to move outwardly and the lugs to engage the mounting substrate. The channels of adjacent brackets face each other for receiving and supporting at least a portion of the planar objects extending between the facing channels for visual observation and ease of removal of the objects for inspection.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/034,891, filed Feb. 25, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,931,746, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to an apparatus for supporting and displaying objects, and more particularly to structures mountable on a supporting surface and suitable for supporting and displaying planar objects including printed media, such as paint color cards used in the sale of paints. 
         [0003]    In the marketing of paint it is desirable to provide paint color cards, or “paint chips”, to prospective paint customers for demonstrating colors and surface finishes corresponding to the effects obtained by using the different colors and types of paint being marketed. Such paint chips can be typically characterized as small pieces of heavy paper or cardboard having a finish on a surface corresponding to at least one paint color and finish intended to be represented. 
         [0004]    Display of such paint chips typically involves the use of suitable stands or display devices permitting the customer to select one or more paint chips representative of paint colors and finishes for purchase. Paint chips are typically displayed in close proximity to each other, in a stacked manner, to allow the prospective paint customer to concurrently compare various colors and finishes of the varying paints, while simultaneously being able to remove a paint chip revealing another paint chip representative of the same color and finish as represented by the removed paint chip. Such display devices incorporate supports or pockets that are supported on a mounting panel. The pockets are adapted to hold a plurality of paint chips, which may be removed by the prospective customers. 
         [0005]    There is a need for a paint chip support for use in conjunction with a display device in which the vertical and horizontal spacing of columns and rows is customizable, with provision for adjustment to accommodate paint chips of different sizes to be displayed simultaneously. Ideally, the paint chip supports should be configured to facilitate installation without need for tools or removal of paint chips from the display. It would be desirable that the new paint chip supports could be installed in a cascading or side-by-side arrangement in order to vary the visual effect and density of pockets on the supporting surface of the display device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An apparatus is provided for supporting and displaying a planar object when connected to a mounting substrate defining at least one aperture. The supporting and displaying apparatus comprises an elongated body member having a longitudinal axis. The body member comprises a planar web terminating in longitudinal edges, and a front wall and a rear wall extending from the longitudinal edges of the web and terminating in longitudinal edges. The front wall and the rear wall extend the length of the web. The web, the front wall and the rear wall terminate at their proximal ends in free edges. An end wall extends transversely with respect to and engages the distal ends of the web, the front wall and the rear wall such that the web and the front and rear walls and the end wall define a longitudinal channel open at the proximal end and closed at the distal end for supporting the objects. A pair of arms extend rearwardly from the body member and are formed on their ends with lugs extending transversely in opposite directions. At least one of the arms is resiliently deflectable in a direction transversely of the longitudinal axis of the body member for engagement and retention of the lugs in the at least one aperture of the mounting substrate. During connection of the supporting and displaying apparatus to the mounting substrate the lugs are adapted to engage the portion of the mounting substrate defining the at least one aperture for moving the at least one of the arms inwardly so that the lugs pass through the aperture for permitting the arms to move outwardly and engage the mounting substrate to releasably connect the body member to the mounting substrate. To disconnect the body member, the arms are moved inwardly causing disengagement of the lugs from the mounting substrate so that the lugs pass through the opening allowing the body member to be moved away from the mounting substrate. 
         [0007]    A system is also provided for supporting and displaying planar objects. The supporting and displaying system comprises a substrate having a mounting surface defining a plurality of spaced openings. A plurality of brackets for receiving and supporting the objects are provided. Each bracket comprises an elongated body member having a longitudinal axis, the body member including a planar web terminating in longitudinal edges. A front wall and a rear wall extend from the longitudinal edges of the web and terminate in longitudinal edges, the front wall and the rear wall extending the length of the web, and the web, the front wall and the rear wall terminating at their proximal ends in free edges. An end wall extends transversely with respect to and engages the distal ends of the web, the front wall and the rear wall such that the web and the front and rear walls and the end wall define a longitudinal channel open at the proximal end and closed at the distal end for supporting the objects. A pair of arms extend rearwardly from the body member. The arms are formed on their ends with lugs extending transversely in opposite directions, at least one of the arms resiliently deflectable in a direction transversely of the longitudinal axis of the body member for engagement and retention of the lugs in the at least one aperture of the mounting substrate. During connection of the brackets to the substrate the lugs are adapted to engage the mounting surface defining the at least one opening for moving the at least one of the arms inwardly so that the lugs pass through the opening permitting the arms to move outwardly and the lugs to engage the substrate to releasably connect the brackets to the substrate in spaced relationship. The channels of adjacent brackets face each other for receiving and supporting at least a portion of the planar objects extending between the facing channels of the brackets for visual observation and ease of removal of the objects for inspection. To disconnect the bracket, the arms are moved inwardly causing disengagement of the lugs from the substrate so that the lugs pass through the opening allowing the bracket to be moved away from the substrate. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference should now be had to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings and described below. In the drawings: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus for supporting and displaying paint color cards showing a first paint color card held in a first pocket and a second paint color card exploded from a second pocket. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1A  is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus for supporting and displaying paint color cards as shown in  FIG. 1  without the paint color cards. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a first end bracket for forming the first pocket as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a second end bracket for forming the second pocket as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an inner side elevation view of the first end bracket as shown in  FIG. 2 , the inner side elevation view of the second end bracket as shown in  FIG. 3  being a mirror image thereof. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a rear elevation view of the first end bracket as shown in  FIG. 2 , the rear elevation view of the second end bracket as shown in  FIG. 3  being a mirror image thereof. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an intermediate bracket for forming the first pocket and the second pocket as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a rear elevation view of the intermediate bracket as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the intermediate bracket as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a side elevation cross-section view of an apparatus for supporting and displaying paint color cards showing an end bracket being inserted. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a side elevation cross-section view as shown in  FIG. 9  with the end bracket inserted. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of a mounting panel for use with an apparatus for supporting and displaying paint color cards including a plurality of brackets installed on the mounting panel. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11A  is a close-up perspective view of the mounting panel as shown in  FIG. 11  showing an installed end bracket. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a top cross-section view of an apparatus for supporting and displaying paint color cards showing paint color cards. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a system for supporting and displaying paint color cards showing a plurality paint color cards held in a cascading arrangement of pockets. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the invention. For example, words such as “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “upward,” and “downward” merely describe the configuration shown in the FIGS. Indeed, the components may be oriented in any direction and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise. 
         [0025]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding or similar elements throughout the several views, an apparatus for supporting a paint color card, or “paint chip”, for display is shown in  FIG. 1 , and generally designated at  30 . The supporting apparatus  30  comprises a plurality of paint chip brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36  that may be selectively removably positioned on a base mounting panel  38  having a plurality of apertures  40 . The brackets comprise a left end bracket  32  (as viewed in  FIG. 1 ), an intermediate bracket  34 , and a right end bracket  36 . When installed, each of the brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36  extends at an angle with respect to the plane of the mounting panel  38 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , the brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36  define channels  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 , and the channels of adjacent brackets face each other forming a series of spaced forwardly and upwardly opening pockets. The pockets are configured for receiving for display paint chips  42 , which slide into the channels  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50  defined by the brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36 . The depth of the channels  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50  may vary depending upon dimensional requirements, but in one embodiment are of a suitable depth for holding a plurality of paint chips in a front-to-back stacked manner. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , each end bracket  32 ,  36  is formed of an elongate member  52  generally having a C-shape in transverse cross-section. The end brackets  32 ,  36  include a front wall  54  and an opposite rear wall  56  joined along their edges by a longitudinal side wall  58 . The front, rear and side walls  54 ,  56 ,  58  define a generally rectangularly-shaped channel  44 ,  50  for receiving paint chips. The upper ends  60  of the channels  44 ,  50  are open. An end wall  62  extends transversely between and joins the ends of the front, rear and side walls  54 ,  56 ,  58  for closing the lower ends  64  of the channels  44 ,  50 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 6-8 , the intermediate bracket  34  is formed of an elongate member  66  generally having an H-shape in transverse cross-section. The intermediate bracket  34  includes a front wall  68  and a rear wall  70 . A longitudinal web  72  extends between and rigidly connects the front and rear walls  68 ,  70  between the longitudinal edges of the front and rear walls  68 ,  70 . In this configuration, the front and rear walls  68 ,  70  and the web  72  of the intermediate bracket  34  define the pair of longitudinal channels  46 ,  48  described above. The channels  46 ,  48  are arranged back-to-back so as to open laterally outwardly in opposite directions. The upper end  74  of the channels  46 ,  48  are open. An end wall  76  extends transversely between and joins the ends of the front and rear walls  68 ,  70  and the web  72  for closing the lower ends  78  of the channels  46 ,  48 . 
         [0028]    Each bracket  32 ,  34 ,  36  includes a planar longitudinal base plate  80  extending rearwardly from the bracket. As best seen in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  7  and  8 , the base plate  80  tapers outwardly from the closed lower ends  64 ,  78  of the brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36 . In this configuration, the outer edge of the base plate  80  forms an angle a with the rear walls  56 ,  70 , such that the angle a is acute. Means for interlocking engagement of the brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36  to the mounting panel  38  are provided for holding the brackets in securely assembled relation to the mounting panel  38 . The interlocking means comprises a mounting flange  82  and at least one panel engaging clip. The mounting flange  82  is substantially rectangular and is formed integrally with the end walls  62 ,  76  at the lower ends  64 ,  78  of the brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36 . The distal end of the mounting flange  82  terminates in a hook portion  86 , which extends downwardly and substantially perpendicular to the rear edge of the base plate  80 . As will be described below, the hook portion  86  is insertable in an aperture  40  in the mounting panel  38  for removably supporting the brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36  on the mounting panel  38 . 
         [0029]    The at least one panel engaging clip is depicted as upper and lower clips projecting rearwardly from the base plate  80 . The clips include longitudinally spaced, rearwardly extending arm portions  88 . The arms  88  are provided with tabs  90  on their distal ends. The tabs  90  extend perpendicularly in opposite directions from the ends of the arms  88 . Bounding the panel engaging clips are support flanges  92  extending perpendicularly from the edge of the base plate  80 . As best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , the arms  88  of the panel engaging clips extend rearwardly a greater distance than the support flanges  92 . 
         [0030]    As will be described below, the tabs  90  are adapted to be inserted through apertures  40  in the mounting panel  38  and engage the walls of the mounting panel  38  that define the apertures  40  for securing the bracket to the mounting panel  38 . For this reason, the arms  88  or the mounting panel  38  are preferably at least slightly resiliently deflectable, which resilience may be easily achieved by proper proportioning of their thickness relative to the projecting distance. It is understood that the drawings herein depict a plurality of panel engaging clips  84  and a vertical arrangement. A single clip or a substantially horizontal arrangement of one or a plurality of arms may also be selected. 
         [0031]    The mounting panel  38  ( FIG. 1 ) comprises a planar plate-like member having a plurality of spaced apertures  40  formed through the mounting panel  38  and arranged in rows and columns. The mounting panel  38  may be any shape, rectangular being only one example. The mounting panel  38  has a front mounting surface  94  against which the brackets are mounted. The apertures  40  are configured to receive the hook portion  86  of the mounting flange  82  and the tabs  90  of the panel engaging clips, respectively, to secure the brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36  on the mounting panel  38 . It is understood that the dimensions of the apertures  40  may be selected to snugly receive the hook portion  86  of the mounting flange  82  and the tabs  90  of the panel engaging clips. In this respect, the specific length and height of the apertures  40  may vary depending on the dimensions of the interlocking means to be received. 
         [0032]    The brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36  may be formed from a number of acceptable materials, including plastics and metals. Brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36  formed of plastic are bendable and resilient to a certain extent and thus insure that the brackets can be readily assembled and snapped to, and removed from, the mounting panel  38 . In one embodiment, the brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36  are made of thermoformed, extruded or molded plastic resins. One suitable example of such a resin is styrene resin. In a further embodiment, a bracket is substantially clear or transparent allowing the visualization of the material held in the pockets formed by the brackets. The mounting panel  38  may also be formed from a number of acceptable materials, including plastics and metals. A, plate-like rigid sheet material is suitable for the mounting panel  38 , such as polycarbonate, polyvinylchloride, medium density fiberboard, and plywood. It is understood that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited by the materials listed here, but may be carried out using any material which allows the construction and operation of the supporting and displaying apparatus described herein. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate a method of installing or detaching a bracket relative to the mounting panel  38 . Installing a bracket includes inserting the distal hook portion  86  of the lower mounting flange  82  in a corresponding aperture  40  dimensioned to receive the hook portion  86 . The bracket is then pivoted at the mounting flange  82  toward the mounting panel  38  so that the tabs  90  of the panel engaging clips are initially brought into registry with a pair of corresponding apertures  40  in the mounting panel  38 . The panel engaging clips are interlocked with the mounting panel  38  by manually urging the tabs  90  into the apertures  40 . The arms  88  may be deformable, meaning they may bend or otherwise be altered in shape, to allow the tabs  90  to fit through the apertures  40 . The arms  88  are also resilient, meaning they will resist deformation and substantially return to their original shape when outside forces are no longer being applied. The walls of the mounting panel  38  defining adjacent the apertures  40  will engage the tabs  90  and the arms  88  will bend slightly inwardly toward each other due to manual pressure toward the mounting panel  38 . Since the arms  88  are resilient, they will resist being compressed toward each other and will, upon the tabs  90  clearing the apertures  40 , resiliently press outwardly on the walls of the mounting panel  38  thereby holding the bracket in place by engagement of the tabs  90  with the rear surface  96  of the panel  38  ( FIGS. 11 and 11A ). With the tabs  90  inserted through the apertures  40 , the support flanges  92  rest against the front surface  94  of the mounting panel  38 , acting as a stop for limiting movement of the bracket toward the mounting panel  38  ( FIG. 10 ). The tabs  90  prevent the bracket from readily backing out of the apertures  40  without again compressing the arms  88  inwardly so that the tabs  90  clear the walls defining the apertures  40 . 
         [0034]    The angular rearward extension of the base plate  80  relative to the elongate member causes the bracket  32 ,  34 ,  36 , when installed on the mounting panel  38 , to cant away from the front surface  94  of the mounting panel  38 . The closed lower end  64  of the bracket is adjacent to, and may be seated against, the mounting panel  38 . The open upper end  60  of the bracket is spaced from the mounting panel  38 . In one embodiment, the bracket may cant forward from the mounting panel  38  at an angle of from between about 0 degrees and about 60 degrees. Canting the bracket away from the mounting panel  38  may be desirable to cause the associated pocket to sit more vertically in the display, to facilitate proper illumination of the materials disposed in the pockets, and the like. Canting the bracket also allows both visual and manual access to the paint chips or other supported articles. Further, this arrangement enables the upper end of a lower bracket to partially overlap the lower end of an upper bracket for a vertically cascading arrangement of brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36 . It is understood that a varying angle of orientation of the base plate  80 , and thus the brackets, may be used throughout the vertical range of the display. The angular variation of the brackets may be linear or non-linear, tilted toward or away from the front surface  94  of the mounting panel  38 . 
         [0035]    To remove an installed bracket  32 ,  34 ,  36  from the mounting panel  38 , the arms  88  are manually compressed inwardly sufficiently to disengage the tabs  90  from the wall of the mounting panel  38  and allow the tabs  90  to pass through the apertures  40 . In this position, the bracket  32 ,  34 ,  36  is pulled out of the apertures  40  by pivoting the bracket at the mounting flange  82  away from the mounting panel  38  so that the hook portion  86  clears the corresponding aperture  40  ( FIG. 9 ). 
         [0036]    As best shown in  FIG. 12 , a pocket for receiving paint chips is defined by a pair of brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36 . More specifically, the channels  44 ,  50  for the end brackets  32 ,  36  and the opposed channels  46 ,  48  on the opposite sides of the intermediate bracket  34  open inwardly and form the pockets. Each pocket is configured and dimensioned for removably supporting and displaying a plurality of stacked paint chips, usually corresponding to at least one color and finish of a paint color intended to be represented. Each plurality of paint chips may be inserted into the associated channels and distal portions of the paint chips are supportingly received in the end of the channels partially defined by the end wall  62 ,  76 . The proximal portion of the paint chips are exposed forwardly of an overlying pocket member for clear visual observation and easy removal and replacement. Each pocket permits display of the paint chips in a manner which presents their full face. A paint chip may be withdrawn from each pocket through an open end simply by lifting the paint chip from between the brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of an arrangement of apertures  40  and brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36  on a mounting panel  38 . The apertures  40  may be arranged in a plurality of columns and rows, which columns and rows of apertures may be substantially equally spaced apart. The width between columns may be selected to create alignment between adjacent indexing apertures and the engaging clips on a bracket, or to minimize space between adjacent pockets defined by the brackets. The spacing between rows may be selected to accommodate the size of the paint chips and permit pockets to be closely packed together, for example, in a conventional vertically cascading arrangement. By “vertically cascading arrangement” it is meant that each installed bracket is partially overlapped by at least one bracket installed adjacently below it. Outwardly canting the brackets, as described above, is one method for facilitating partial overlap of adjacent installed brackets. In other embodiments, varying degrees of overlap may be accommodated. 
         [0038]    In alternative arrangements, the distance between sets of apertures  40  for receiving an associated pair of brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36  may be selected to accommodate paint chips of different sizes, or to provide different card pocket densities on the mounting panel  38 . In other words, an irregular pattern is also contemplated in one embodiment. In this way, each pocket is capable of being arranged in any of a top-to-bottom, side-to-side, full-face or overlapping configuration using the same mounting apparatus with no modification to the individual brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36  being necessary. This allows for flexibility in displaying paint chips. 
         [0039]    A particularly advantageous feature allows the brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36  to be selectively positionable so that the width or height of a corresponding pocket formed by the brackets can be adjusted to adapt to individual paint chips. This is accomplished by modifying the configuration of the apertures  40  of the mounting panel  38 . The apertures  40  may be adjusted laterally or vertically relative to each other to accommodate paint chips or other articles of widely varying sizes and shapes. In this manner, the brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36  can be quickly converted to use for displaying paint chips larger or smaller than those of average size, modifying a pocket depending upon the physical dimensions of the chip which is to be displayed. Moreover, the distance between brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36  may accommodate paint chips of larger or smaller size without resort to replacement or disassembly of the display. Utilizing this feature, the overall horizontal and vertical dimensions of the display apparatus can be varied, thus providing greater flexibility in the system which, in effect, is only limited by the dimensions of the mounting panel  38  and the physical limitations of the surface upon which the mounting panel  38  is to be mounted. Thus, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to any particular width or height dimensions of the brackets or pockets or other components. 
         [0040]    In use, the forwardmost paint chip of a group in a pocket may be readily removed by sliding the paint chip upwardly over the surface of the next rearward paint chip so as to withdraw the forwardmost paint chip from the pocket. In an alternative embodiment, the brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36  may be arranged to define a pocket that is adapted to allow a prospective paint customer to remove paint chips contained within the pocket from a side, as opposed to from the top. If the pocket is configured to allow for removal of paint chips from the side, then it is preferred for the brackets  32 ,  34 ,  36  to overlap in a side to side manner. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 8 , each bracket  32 ,  34 ,  36  comprises a partial inner wall  98  oppositely disposed rearward of the rear wall  56 ,  70 . The partial inner wall  98  may be positioned substantially halfway along and adjacent the inner edge of the rear wall  56 ,  70 . The lower end of the inner wall  98  is angled outwardly forming a retention projection  100 . The partial inner wall  98  and the rear wall  56 ,  70  define a slot  99  of suitable size for holding a paint chip. The retention projection  100  is arranged at a midpoint in an opening in the rear wall  56 ,  70  so as to engage and push the paint chip forwardly against the rear wall  56 ,  70  and thus hold the paint chip in place. The slot  99  may serve to retain behind the rear walls  56 ,  70  of the brackets at least one paint chip representative of the paint chips contained in the pocket. Frictional contact of the terminal ends of the projections  100  with the paint chip maintains the chip in position within the pocket. The paint chip is representative of the color and finish on each of the plurality of paint chips stored in a corresponding pocket and serves as a reference for the supply of chips to be replenished when they are exhausted from the pocket. Retaining one “permanent” paint chip behind the rear wall  56 ,  70  in the bracket prevents potential paint customers from attempting to remove the last paint chip of a given color and finish, thereby ensuring future potential paint customers will be able to view the representative paint chip even before the supply has been replenished. 
         [0042]    In one embodiment, the mounting panel  38  may be incorporated into a display stand ( FIG. 13 ), such as is often found associated with the sale of paint, and paint color cards. The display stand may be supported by legs or by any other suitable base, which extends to the floor or which can rest on a table, counter or other supporting structure to dispose the shelf units at an elevation which is conveniently accessible to the user. The display stand may include a unit to which the mounting panel  38  may be attached by any suitable means. The display may further include a light, which may be direct or indirect lighting supplied by incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs or other light emitters. The light may be disposed above the mounting panel  38  so as to illuminate the pockets formed by the brackets installed on the mounting panel  38 . The display may be rotatable so as to permit selective viewing of different sections from a forward position. 
         [0043]    Alternatively, in another embodiment, the mounting panel  38  may be affixed to a surface, such as a wall, using conventional means such as adhesives, nails, screws, staples or any other suitable means. 
         [0044]    Although the apparatus for supporting and displaying paint chips has been shown and described in considerable detail with respect to only a few exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that we do not intend to limit the invention to the embodiments since various modifications, omissions and additions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the invention, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. For example, other planar card-like or sheet-like objects, and groups of cards, or card-like objects may be supported by the brackets for display. The pockets formed by the brackets provide a product-bearing assembly capable of supporting any type of three-dimensional product, and is ideally suited for supporting and displaying products of generally rectilinear configuration such as printed media, generally including magazines, product brochures, newspapers, books, greeting cards, packaged multi-media and the like. Moreover, the pockets could be adapted to display a variety of non-printed materials, including non-printed media. It is appreciated that the apparatus is capable of use with an unlimited variety of articles, which broad use is intended to be comprehended herein. Accordingly, we intend to cover all such modifications, omission, additions and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures.