Patent Publication Number: US-4093077-A

Title: Jewelry display rack

Description:
This invention is related to an improved jewelry display device. 
     Currently, there are several designs for jewelry display racks in use. In one type the number of display sites is fixed so that the capacity of the rack is fixed. Relatively large racks of this type require a definite amount of space which can be a disadvantage, when space is limited. Such racks can be bulky and difficult to handle. Alternatively, the display rack may be made in parts, but the parts often require special fasteners together with the requisite tools to complete a tedious assembly. 
     The novel jewelry rack of this invention avoids the disadvantages of previous jewelry racks. It comprises a plurality of vertically stacked display frames on which jewelry can be easily attached with optional jewelry mounting means. These modules are simply connected to one another by passing a plurality of upwardly directed mounting rods attached to a base through channels in the display frames adapted to receive the mounting rods so as to support the display frames in a vertical stack. Assembly can be accomplished easily without special tools. 
     Each modular display frame may be any desired dimension. Adjacent units must, however, conform with one another. Preferred construction material for the frames is clear lucite. Not only can each desired display unit be of variable capacity, but the overall capacity of the display rack can be varied by connecting together a variable number of the modular display units. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a novel jewelry rack of easily variable capacity. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a variable capacity jewelry rack that is easy to assemble requiring few tools. 
     It is also an object of this invention to provide a jewelry rack comprised of a plurality of display units conforming to each other so as to form stable vertical structures. 
     It is also an object of this invention to provide a rotatable, variable capacity jewelry rack that has improved aesthetic qualities. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages of this invention will now be made apparent with reference to the following figures. 
     FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of the novel jewelry display rack of this invention with jewelry 26 mounted thereon. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged top perspective cutaway view of the top portion of the novel jewelry rack of this invention shown in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the rack body 23 having a plurality of modular display frames 17. 
     FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of the novel jewelry rack of this invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a rectangular modular display frame 17. 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged cutaway top perspective view of a corner of display frame 17. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing assembly of the jewelry rack. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In FIGS. 1 to 3 it is shown that the jewelry rack body 23 is comprised of a plurality of vertically stacked modular display frames 17 supported on bottom plate 18 of base 22 by upwardly directed mounting rods 19 attached to said bottom plate 18. Mounting rods 19 support the rack body 23 by passing substantially vertically through the channels 27 in each of the four corner posts 29 of the modular display frame 17 shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5 and 6. A rack top plate 20 may be secured to the topmost display frame 17 of the rack body 23 by the nuts 21 attached to the threaded ends of the mounting rods 19 as shown in FIG. 2. The rack bottom plate 18 is secured to the rack body 23 with nuts 24 attached to the threaded ends of the mounting rods 19 as shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment the base 22 for support of rack body 23 comprises a bottom plate 18 and a swivel base unit 41. The swivel base unit 41 comprises a swivel base 16 attached by swivel base screws 15 to the rack bottom plate 18, a swivel 13 attached to swivel base 16, for example, by welding; a hollow chrome tube 12 having plastic bushing 14 adapted to receive said swivel 13 so as to assist rotation of the swivel 13 in the chrome tube 12 and three feet 11 attached preferably by welding to said chrome tube 12. 
     A second nonrotatable embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG. 4. It is comprised of a plurality of modular display frames 17 vertically supported by the mounting rods 19 passing through channels 27 as in the first embodiment, a rack top plate 30 and a rack base 31. The rack top plate 30 is attached to the top of the jewelry rack by screwing the decorative nuts 32 to the threaded ends of the rods 19. The rack bottom plate 31 is attached to the bottom of the jewelry rack as shown in FIG. 3. The bottom plate 31 is equipped with a downwardly turned lip 33 around its periphery so that it can rest on a display case. 
     The details of the modular display frame 17 are shown in FIG. 5. Each display frame 17 is comprised of a plurality of vertically disposed corner posts 29 connected by jewelry mounting frame members 28. Each jewelry mounting frame member 28 may be a straight beam having a substantially vertical L-shaped cross-sectional area so as to have an inwardly directed lip 36. This lip 36 can be used to assist tracking and mounting of jewelry display mounting means 25. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, each corner post 29 may be provided with an upwardly projecting area 35 on its top and a recessed area 37 on its bottom, said upwardly projecting areas 35 conforming and fitting into said downwardly directed recess 37 on its neighboring modular display frames 17 to form a vertical stack of display frames 17 of substantial stability. The preferred material for construction of the display frame 17 is clear lucite. 
     In operation, both of these embodiments can be assembled rapidly by sliding the modular display frames 17 over the mounting rods 19 and attaching top plate 20 (or 30) and the bottom plate 18 (or 31) to the jewelry mounting rods 19 by the nuts 24 and 21 (or 32) as shown in FIG. 6. Jewelry 26 may be attached to both racks by optional jewelry mounting means 25.