Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a novel hanging display device for displaying various articles. Specifically exemplified is a display device for displaying collectibles contained in original box.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    There is a large market of products that people enjoy buying as collectibles. For example, kids and their parents enjoy buying dolls, stuffed animals and miscellaneous toys that are marketed as a “special collection”. Examples of these include BARBIE dolls or STAR TREK figures. Some of these items kids play with regularly, while other, more special items, are kept in the box and saved as a collectible. The value of the collectible is often determined by the condition of the decorative box, and even more valuable if the box has not been opened. To maintain the good condition of the box, the very special items are usually put away in the back of the closet never to be enjoyed or displayed.  
           [0002]    Either toys are put away out of sight, or displayed upon a convenient surface as an alternative to conventional storage. Or parents must hang cumbersome shelves to display . . . However, such display often clutters furniture surfaces within the child&#39;s room which the parents would prefer be used for other purposes. In the face of the reluctance of children to store or put away such large numbers of toy figures or dolls, as well as the desire to maintain the condition of collectibles, a need arises in the art for a convenient storage and display apparatus for such toys.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The subject invention pertains to a novel hanging display device for displaying a wide array of items, and especially suited for displaying and organizing toys. The subject invention provides for the aesthically pleasing display of toys and other collectibles without damaging their original box. In a particular embodiment, the subject invention is directed to a hanging display apparatus comprising a base, a back support structure, and an adjustable bracket for securing the display item. The hanging display device is preferably configured to minimize the amount the device covers the display item, and thus the amount it is noticed by the observer when the item is displayed. The base is preferably made of a clear plastic material to allow the observer to view the bottom of the display item. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0004]    Turning to FIG. 1, display device embodiment  100  is shown comprising a support base  110  which is attached or integral with a back support  120 . Slidably attached to the back support  120  is an adjustable bracket  115 . The adjustable bracket  115  can be raised or lowered as necessary to contact the top of the display device, and hold the display item onto the display device  100 . The adjustable bracket may include several different configurations to achieve this objective. As shown, the adjustable bracket  115  comprises a telescopic wire-like structure comprising a top extender portion  125  that is positioned on top of the display item (not shown). The back support  120  comprises bracket guides  130  and  134  that comprise punched portions of the back support  120 . The adjustable bracket slides within the bracket guides  130  and  134 , and the bracket guides  130  and  134  are configured such that they friction between the bracket guides  130  and  134  is created to hold the adjustable bracket  115  at a desired position. FIG. 1B shows a magnified view of a section of the back support  120  better illustrating the bracket guides  130 . Bracket guides  130  comprise a flap of material that is open on the center side of the back support  120 . To accommodate larger display items, the bracket  115  may be squeezed (see dashed lines) and pushed up past bracket guides  130 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the bracket guides may open toward the lateral portion of the back support  120 . Further, numerous open bracket guides may be disposed on the back support to allow for smaller, incremental adjustment of the bracket  115 .  
         [0005]    The term “wire-like structure” as used herein refers to a rod of pliable material which may be bent to form an extender portion for securing a display item. Preferably, the wire-like structure is continuous such that it comprises two ends and an elongated body, wherein the extender portion is fashioned out of the elongated body and wherein the two ends are slidable attached to the back support. The term pliable rod implies a circular cross-section, which is preferred, but rod is intended to encompass other cross-sectional shapes, including but not limited to a square, rectangular, star shape, and a cross shape.  
         [0006]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the display device  100  may be secured to a wall by adhesive strips, hook and loop strips, or similar means. Preferably the display device is secured to a wall by a hanging means, including, but not limited to, tacks, nails, screws etc. that are placed through one or more holes  135  defined on the back support  120  (see FIG. 2, back view). FIG. 2 shows the use of screws  136  to hang the display device  100 . Also the bracket  115  comprises a wire-like structure that comprises a stop  150  on each end of the bracket  115 . The stop  150  helps prevent the bracket  115  from pulling out of the back support  120  when the bracket  115  is extended. FIG. 4 shows a back view of display device  100  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the bracket is extended to accommodate a larger display item. FIG. 5 shows the top of such device. FIG. 6 shows the bottom of such device.  
         [0007]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the back support and adjustable bracket may be fashioned into multiple configurations. What is important is that the display device can support the display item, that the display device is securable to a wall, and that the bracket is adjustable to accommodate various differently sized items. Preferably, the display items are boxes encasing special collectibles, such as collectible dolls, figurines, model cars, planes or boats and other collectibles contained in a box.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment that comprises a channel  340  into which the bracket  315  may slide in and out of The bracket  315  is held into place by friction between the inner walls of the channel  340  and the bracket  315 . Preferably, the base  110  and back support  120  are sized to be smaller than the bottom and back portion, respectively, of the displayed item. This is to minimize obstruction of the decorative box.  
         [0009]    The different parts of the display device  100  may be made of metal, plastic material, wood, or other suitable materials such as rubber, glass, ceramic, etc. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that plastics include a broad range of known plastic polymers. The critical aspect being that the material used has a sufficient rigidity and sturdiness to support itself and the display item. It is also contemplated that different parts of the subject display device are constructed of different materials. For example, the base  110  may be made of a clear, transparent material, while the back support  120  is made of metal or wood. Use of a transparent material provides an enhanced level of interest as the observer will be allowed to see the bottom of the display item.  
         [0010]    In addition, the bracket of the subject invention may take several different shapes and configurations. Preferably, the general bracket comprises an elongated portion that slidingly communicates with a back support. Extending outwardly and transversely from the elongated portion is a securing arm portion that functions to secure the display item down onto a base. More preferably, the securing arm portion extends at substantially a right angle out from the elongated portion so as to properly rest on top of the display item. Furthermore, a gripping material may be disposed on the securing arm portion to assist in securing the display item onto the display device. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that several appropriate materials may be used for this function, including, but not limited to, plastic, rubber, silicone, or cloth.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 7 illustrates a display device embodiment  700  comprising an alternative bracket  715  design. Embodiment  700  comprises a back support  720  that comprises a plurality of ridges  722 . The bracket  715  comprises a series of rectangular apertures  723  that correspond to the ridges  722 . The bracket may be set at a specific height by fastening the bracket  715  to the back support  720  so that the ridges  722  are pushed through the appropriate rectangular apertures  723 . The back support also comprises one or more holes  735  to accommodate to screws  740  or other appropriate hanging means.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 8 illustrates a display device embodiment  800  that comprises the ability to tilt. This embodiment would be especially desirous for items that are hung high, as the item may be titled downward to increase visibility. The display device  800  comprises an adjustable back bracket  810  that has an extendable bracket portion  812  and a bracket support portion  814 . The display device  800  also comprises a base  815  to provide bottom support. The adjustable back bracket  810  and base  815  are integrated together such that they may tilt as a single unit. The adjustable back bracket  810  and base  815  are secured to a stationary back support  820  by a bolt (hidden) and nut  822 . Not shown is a channel to which both the base  815  and adjustable back bracket  810  are attached and through which the bolt (also not shown) passes through. The adjustable back bracket  810  and base  815  may be adjusted by loosening and tightening the screw  822 . Furthermore, the extendable bracket portion  812  comprises a support arm  813  that extends outwardly and transversely from the extendable bracket portion  812 . Disposed on the end of the support arm  813  is a gripping material  816 . A gripping material  817  is also disposed on the outer end of the base  815 .  
         [0013]    All patents, patent applications and publications discussed or cited herein are understood to be incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually set forth in its entirety.  
         [0014]    Having generally described this invention, including the best mode thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention contemplates the embodiments of this invention as defined in the following claims, and equivalents thereof. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the scope of this invention should be measured by the claims appended hereto, and not merely by the specific embodiments exemplified herein. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that more sophisticated technological advances will likely appear subsequent to the filing of this document with the Patent Office. To the extent that these later developed improvements embody the operative principles at the heart of the present disclosure, those improvements are likewise considered to come within the ambit of the following claims.