Abstract:
The invention provides a display for a storing or holding plurality of articles, such as hats, gloves, wallets and the like, comprising: a plurality of horizontal slats and a plurality of display tubes, each display tube being on a portion of one of the plurality of horizontal slats, and including an elongated hollow geometric shape extending outwardly from the horizontal slat, a front opening and a closed or partially closed rear opening, the closed or partially closed rear opening having attached thereto a hanger for hanging the display tube on the slat.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/235,0261 filed Mar. 2, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to displays and storage systems, and more particularly to retail displays for items such as hats, gloves, or other small items.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Various displays can be used to display items for sale at retail or for other storage purposes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,400 B1 (Miller) shows a brimmed hat storage and display device that has a number of hollow cylinders of translucent plastic having an opening at each end, and a compressible clip secured to the midpoint of the cylindrical member to mount it to a support member having an aperture to accept the clip. The cylinder holds a brimmed cap at each end.  
         [0004]     Devanney, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,004, provides a display assembly with cylindrical containers positioned horizontally with the open end facing outwardly and flush with the display surface and the closed end within the display assembly. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,356, Schieve illustrates a modular container with a semi-cylindrical channel and pivoting lid. The container is preferably made of transparent plastic, and affixes to a pegboard or similar support. Lehmann in U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,860 shows a cylindrical container mounted horizontally with a slot to access the interior. Circular divider discs partition the interior into separate sections.  
         [0005]     Davis, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,557, discusses a stand with a back on a horizontal base with a curved lower shelf above the base. Vertical pegs are mounted perpendicular to the base for enclosing folded caps with the visors against the back. Neirinckx, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,588, discloses a cap display rack with horizontal elements fastened to a pair of vertical supports. The horizontal elements have sets of three pegs for supporting a billed cap. Multiple sets of pegs are spaced over the whole rack.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,144 (Deupree) describes a hat rack that can be square or oval in cross-section. The rack has mounting slots that are sized to accept the top portion of a folded hat with the cap bill extending outwardly from the rack. The hat rack may be mounted on a pivot base, or on a wire attached at the top for ceiling mounting.  
         [0007]     It would be desirable to provide a display for retail or other storage needs that includes a number of transparent plastic cylinders, or other hollow shapes, made of acrylic or other similar plastic material, that can be attached to a display board, peg board, slat wall, or the like, to store and display a number of articles in each cylinder. The cylinders or shapes can be attached to or hung from display board or slats making an attractive and useful display for a multiplicity of items, such as baseball caps, ski caps or other small items such as socks, gloves, leathergoods, CD&#39;s, or DVD&#39;s.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The disadvantages of the prior displays and objects of the invention can be achieved by providing a display for a plurality of items, such as hats, gloves, wallets and the like, comprising: a plurality of horizontal slats; and a plurality of display tubes, each display tube being on a portion of one of the plurality of horizontal slats, each display tube including an elongated hollow geometric shape extending outwardly from the horizontal slat, a front open and a closed or partially closed rear opening, the closed or partially closed rear opening having attached thereto a hanger for hanging the display tube on the slat.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     Other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention can be understood by reviewing the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a display of the present invention shown in combination with a pedestal stand;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of a display of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2   a  is a side view, partially broken away, of a tube, rear end, and hanger for use in the display of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are respective side views of each side of the display of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0014]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are top and bottom views respectfully of the display of  FIG. 1 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     Turning now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-6  illustrate the display of the present invention, generally designated by reference numeral  10 . The display  10  includes a plurality of display tubes  12  arranged in a vertical and horizontal array, for example in several rows and columns as shown in  FIG. 1 . The display tubes  12  are shown in  FIG. 1  affixed to an adjustable stand  14  including a plurality of horizontal slats  16 .  
         [0016]     The display tube  12 , shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , preferably is a right cylinder made of Lucite or another acrylic or similar rigid plastic material. It may be tinted, clear, or even opaque, as desired. The tubes used in the present invention are preferably acrylic tubes having a diameter of about 7½ inches, a thickness of ⅛ inches, and a length of 12 inches. They are formed from longer extruded tubes that can be cut to the desired size. The diameter of the tube  12  may vary according to the type of item on display. For displaying baseball caps, for example, it should preferably be wide enough to accommodate the brim, or about 6-8 inches for adult men&#39;s or women&#39;s caps, and 6 or less for children&#39;s size.  
         [0017]     Of course, different sizes can also be used to display various items. For a cap or hat display, the length of the tube varies according to the number of caps intended to be stored in each tube, and in selecting a tube size, one should take into consideration the display environment. A desirable length for a wall display would be approximately 10 to 12 inches, while a freestanding floor display might use somewhat shorter tubes to avoid protruding into aisle space or creating a display that might be difficult to balance when filled. Preferably, the hollow cylinder should have a wall thickness of about ⅛ to ¼ or more inches, to provide adequate strength and support to the contents. For other types or caps, such as ski caps, a larger diameter tube  12  can be used to allow the caps to be stacked upright inside the tube  12 . To configure the display for gloves, wallets, or other small leather accessories, such as key cases, a person of ordinary skill would select the appropriate dimensions for a tube  12 .  
         [0018]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 , and  4 - 5 , the tube  12  has a relatively straight open from end  28 , a partially (or fully) closed rear facing  30  and a hanger  32  to engage a horizontal slat  26 . The closure  34  on the rear end  30  may be a semi-circle of the same material, such as acrylic, to keep the hats  34  or other products in the tube  12  from coming out of the rear end  30  of the tube  12 . The hanger  32  as shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , and in close up in  FIG. 2   a  is C-shaped, when viewed from the side and hangs on a horizontal slat  26 . The rear facing  30  and the hanger  32  are preferably all made of the same transparent, plastic material and welded, cemented, or otherwise bonded to the display tube  12 , in a conventional manner.  
         [0019]     The support stand  14  for the display tubes  12  may take one of several forms. It may be, as shown in  FIG. 1 , an adjustable steel or wooden frame, with right vertical members  18 ,  20  and upper and lower horizontal members  22 ,  24 , joined by welds, bolts or other available methods of attaching metal and wooden parts. A plurality of intermediate horizontal slats  26  are placed in spaced arrangement between the upper and lower horizontal members  22 ,  24 , to proved additional locations to attach tubes  12 . The display stand  14  may include T-shaped legs, or the stand  14  may be omitted and the display  12  mounted on wall slat (not shown).  
         [0020]     The display tubes  12  are hung or suspended from the intermediate horizontal slats  26  by the hangers  30 , as shown in  FIGS. 2-6 . the intermediate horizontal slats  26  are spaced apart and mounted horizontally on a wall (not shown) as an alternative mounting arrangement to the display  14  mounting shown in  FIG. 1 , as mentioned above.  
         [0021]     The invention thus provides a number of advantages. First, the display creates an attractive environment in which to display or hold items, such as caps or hats, that tend to come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and have different emblems. The clear tube  12  makes the product viewable from the side, as well as the front, when used in a retail store. The tube array provides a more attractive and interesting display than does a wall-mounted series of cubby holes or shelves, commonly used for retail display of hats and gloves. The tube size can be adapted according to the size and shape of the product that it will display. In addition, the tubes may be hung in creative staggered patterns to create customer interest or draw attention to the display.  
         [0022]     The clear, rigid plastic, such as polycarbonate, polystyrene, Lucite, or other material may be tinted, and one may use a variety of colors in a single display. The display provides flexibility in that different sizes or colors of tubes can be intermixed, and tubes can be added or removed to adjust to inventory demands. A single piece can easily be replaced or removed if it becomes broken or scratched. The tubes can be supplied in other shapes, including (from end view), a triangle, a square or other four-sided shape, an oval, and other polyhedrons, such as pentagons, hexagons, or octagons for example.  
         [0023]     In addition, the display can be used in numerous environments other than retail stores. It can be used in a basement, garage, closet, or home workshop to store small items, parts, or tools. It can also be used, for example, an automobile repair center or garage to store and display different sizes of spark plugs, wiper blade replacements, or other small auto parts. The tubes can also be hung on a pegboard or using another type of backing, using an appropriate hanger.  
         [0024]     Various other modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, other attachment clips can be used, as well as other types of display stands or slat mount. It is therefore intended that all such variations be considered with the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.