Patent Publication Number: US-8991776-B1

Title: Display

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     The present application claims the priority date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/568,943, filed May 6, 2004. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to displays and, more particularly, to a display for holding and displaying objects such as jewelry. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     It is known to provide displays for objects such as jewelry. One example of such a display is used for holding a ring. The display has a base with a projection extending upwardly and outwardly at an angle from the base in the form of a finger. The ring is disposed on the finger such that the finger extends through an opening defined interiorly by a band of the ring to cause an interference fit with the inner circumference of the band of the ring. 
     Another example of such a display is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,345 to DiMaggio. In this patent, a display includes a base having a recess, a cylindrical projection extending from the base and into the recess, and a sleeve disposed about the projection. The band of the ring is disposed in the recess and about the projection and sleeve. As the ring is moved toward a rear surface of the recess, the outer circumference of the band contacts a front surface of the recess, and the inner circumference of the band compresses the sleeve to hold the ring against the front surface. 
     It is desirable to provide a display that better hides ring tags. It is also desirable to provide a display that provides for unlimited angles of display. Thus, there is a need in the art for a display for holding and displaying an object of jewelry such as a ring that maximizes the amount of the ring that can be viewed and the number of ways in which the ring can be positioned and displayed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a display for holding and displaying objects. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a display for holding and displaying jewelry. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a display for holding and displaying rings. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a display for holding and displaying round and oval objects. 
     To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is a display for holding and displaying an object. The display includes a base and a projection extending from the base and having a slot to form a pair of branches. The branches are adapted to hold a portion of the object within the slot and to display the object. 
     One advantage of the present invention is that a display is provided for holding an object such as jewelry. Another advantage of the present invention is that the display is used for holding a ring. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the display maximizes the amount of a ring that can be viewed and hides any price tags attached to the ring, providing an artistic and marketing advantage to the user of the display. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the display maximizes the number of ways in which a ring can be positioned and displayed. A further advantage of the present invention is that the display accommodates very specific floor heights for jewelry showcases. Yet a further advantage of the present invention is that the display can be used for holding and displaying round and oval objects. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood, after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a display, according to the present invention, illustrated in operational relationship with an object. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevational view of a projection of the display of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the projection of the display of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the projection of the display of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the projection of the display of  FIG. 1  illustrated in operational relationship with an object. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are elevational views of various shapes of the projection of the display of  FIG. 1  illustrated in operational relationship with an object. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are side elevational views of various angles of the projection of the display of  FIG. 1  illustrated in operational relationship with an object. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Referring to the drawings, and in particular  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of a display  10 , according to the present invention, is shown in operational relationship with an object. Although the display  10  is used for holding and displaying any suitable object, such as a piece of jewelry, the display  10  is described below and shown in the figures used in connection with a circular or oval object or a ring, generally indicated at  12 . In the embodiment illustrated, the ring  12  has a band, generally indicated at  14 , which is generally circular in shape and has an outer circumferential surface  16  and an inner circumferential surface (not shown). It should be appreciated that the band  14  of the ring  12  may be of various shapes and sizes, but has a generally circular shape, as is known in the art. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 7A , the display  10  includes a base, generally indicated at  18 , having an upper surface  20 . In the embodiment illustrated, the base  18  is generally rectangular, but may be any suitable shape. The base  18  is made of a rigid material, such as plastic. The base  18  may also be made of a transparent material. It should be appreciated that any suitable rigid material may be used to make the base  18 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  5 , and  7 A, the display  10  also includes a projection, generally indicated at  22 , extending from and attached to the base  18  by suitable means, such as being fused to the base  18 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  through  5 , and  7 A, the projection  22  has a slot  24  to form a pair of branches  26 . The slot  24  tapers toward the base  18  such that the branches  26  extend in a non-parallel fashion with respect to each other. The branches  26  are adapted to hold a portion of the ring  12  within the slot  24  and to display the ring  12 . 
     In one embodiment of the display  10 , the branches  26  are disposed substantially in the same plane with respect to each other, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  through  5 , and  7 A. The branches  26  also substantially co-extend with respect to each other and at an angle equal to or fewer than 90° with respect to the upper surface  20  of the base  18 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 7 . The amount of extent of the branches  26  and, thus, the projection  22  can vary as well as can the angle of inclination of the projection  22  with respect to the base  18 . More specifically, the projection  22  can take on any orientation in the continuous range from substantially parallel with to perpendicular to the upper surface  20  of the base  18 . For instance, the angle of inclination of the projection  22  with respect to the base  18  can be any between about 45° and 30°, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , respectively. In addition, the branches  26  can be disposed at any suitable angle with respect to each other, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  through  5 , and  7 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the branches  26  can take on many different suitable sizes and shapes. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  5 , and  7 A, the slot  24  preferably further forms a trunk  28  in the projection  22  disposed between and connecting the base  18  and the branches  26 . More specifically, the trunk  28  is integrally connected to the branches  26 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the trunk  28  can vary in size and shape. In another embodiment, the display  10  does not include a trunk  28  such that the branches  26  meet substantially at the upper surface  20  of the base  18 . 
     In one embodiment of the display  10 , the projection  22  is made of a semi-rigid material, such as plastic, is non-malleable, and has a sufficient memory when flexed. The projection  22  provides an extremely reliable holding power for various ring-like objects to be held at desired angles and positions. 
     Although the projection  22  is fused to the upper surface  20  of the base  18 , in another embodiment, the projection  22  can have a portion thereof disposed in a cavity (not shown) of the upper surface  20  of the base  18 . For example, a portion of the trunk  28  can be disposed in the cavity. In this case, the projection  22  preferably extends from the cavity two to five times longer than the projection  22  is inserted into the cavity. The projection  22  can also be moved to a variety of cavities with no need to replace or add projections  22 . Also, many shapes of cavities can utilize many combinations of projections  22 . The cavities, especially in transparent-material bases  18 , also provide an ornamental appearance. In another embodiment, the projection  22  can be integrally connected to the base  18 . 
     In operation, the band  14  of the ring  12  is disposed about a branch  26 . As the ring  12  is moved toward the base  18 , a portion of the inner surface of the band  14  contacts a portion of the branch  26  while a portion of the outer surface  16  of the band  14  contacts a portion of the other branch  26  to hold the ring  12  between the branches  26 . The ring  12  forms an interference friction fit with the branches  26  due to the outer circumference of each of the branches  26  and the inner surface and outer surface  16  of the ring  12  and the respective surface tensions of the corresponding materials from which the ring  12  and the branches  26  are made. The ring  12  exerts a force upon each of the branches  26 , which, in turn, exerts an equal and opposite force upon the ring  12 . In combination, the branches  26  hold the ring  12  in place. It should be appreciated that by providing a slot  24  in the projection  22 , the tensile strength of the material of the projection  22  creates pressure, thereby locking the ring  12  in place. 
     By shaping the branches  26  to have substantially pointed shapes, the surface area of the ring  12  being displayed that is unobstructed for viewing can be maximized. By providing the branches  26  to be adapted for disposal at various orientations, the specific orientation at which the ring  12  is displayed for optimal viewing thereof can be achieved as well. In this way, the display  10  maximizes the amount of the ring  12  that can be viewed and the number of ways in which the ring  12  can be positioned and displayed. 
     The display  10  can be used to hold objects such as jewelry, in general, and rings  12 , in particular. Also, the display  10  maximizes the amount of a ring  12  that can be viewed and hides any price tags attached to the ring  12 , providing an artistic and marketing advantage to the user of the display  10 . Furthermore, the display  10  maximizes the number of ways in which a ring  12  can be positioned and displayed. In addition, the display  10  accommodates very specific floor heights for jewelry showcases. Moreover, the display  10  can be used for holding and displaying round and oval objects. 
     The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. 
     Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.