Patent Publication Number: US-11638491-B2

Title: Display case for window coverings

Description:
This application claims the benefit of co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62,940,608 filed Nov. 26, 2019 for Window Covering Display System and Method of Use. The &#39;608 application is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     This disclosure relates generally to display cases for window coverings such as blinds, shades, shutters, or curtains. This list is meant to be explanatory rather than limiting. There may be other types of window coverings that may benefit from the present disclosure. 
     Related Art 
     It is known in the art that an effective way to sell window coverings is to bring samples of the window coverings to a customer&#39;s home or place of business so that the customer can assess how the window covering will look in the location where it will be used rather than view the product in a store showroom. 
     Recently issued U.S. Pat. No. 10,604,998 for Shading Display and Sample taught the use of a window covering that was permanently mounted in a frame structure with integral drive structures to allow a set of shades to be opened and closed to demonstrate a particular window covering through the use of this portable display frame. The &#39;998 patent teachings require that each window covering be permanently mounted in a frame structure that may include other features unrelated to the window covering such as handles for carrying the display case. Thus a dealer with a hundred possible window coverings (which may include several different color choices for a particular type and brand of window covering) would need to pay for a hundred frames. 
     Vocabulary. 
     Or. 
     Unless explicit to the contrary, the word “or” should be interpreted as an inclusive or rather than an exclusive or. Thus, the default meaning of or should be the same as the more awkward and/or. 
     Set. 
     Unless explicit to the contrary, the word “set” should be interpreted as a group of one or more items. 
     Gne and Gnes. 
     To avoid the awkward he/she and his/her or the potentially confusing singular use of they and their, this application uses the gender-neutral pronoun gne and the possessive gnes. 
     Step. 
     The term step may be used in descriptions within this disclosure. For purposes of clarity, one distinct act or step may be discussed before beginning the discussion of another distinct act or step. The term step should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps disclosed unless the specific order of individual steps is expressly indicated. 
     Substantially. 
     Frequently, when describing an industrial process it is useful to note that a given parameter is substantially met. Examples may be substantially parallel, substantially perpendicular, substantially uniform, and substantially flat. In this context, substantially X means that for purposes of this industrial process it is X. So something that may not be absolutely parallel but is for all practical purposes parallel, is substantially parallel. Likewise, mixed air that has substantially uniform temperature would have temperature deviations that were inconsequential for that industrial process. 
     As recognized in C. E. Equipment Co. v. United States, 13 U.S.P.Q.2d 1363, 1368 (Cl. Ct. 1989), the word “substantially” in patent claims gives rise to some definitional leeway—thus the word “substantially” may prevent avoidance of infringement by minor changes that do not affect the results sought to be accomplished. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Aspects of the teachings contained within this disclosure are addressed in the claims submitted with this application upon filing. Rather than adding redundant restatements of the contents of the claims, these claims should be considered incorporated by reference into this summary. 
     This summary is meant to provide an introduction to the concepts that are disclosed within the specification without being an exhaustive list of the many teachings and variations upon those teachings that are provided in the extended discussion within this disclosure. Thus, the contents of this summary should not be used to limit the scope of the claims that follow. 
     Inventive concepts are illustrated in a series of examples, some examples showing more than one inventive concept. Individual inventive concepts can be implemented without implementing all details provided in a particular example. It is not necessary to provide examples of every possible combination of the inventive concepts provided below as one of skill in the art will recognize that inventive concepts illustrated in various examples can be combined together in order to address a specific application. 
     Some aspects of the teachings of the present disclosure may be expressed as an assembly for display of a window covering, the assembly including:
         a display case with a top, left side, right side, and bottom, thus having two side walls; the display case adapted to reversibly hold a display board near the top of the display case through a magnetic bond between the display case and the display board;   a set of at least one piece of mounting hardware for the window covering, the set of at least one piece of mounting hardware engaged with the display board; and the window covering engaged with the set of at least one piece of mounting hardware so that   the window covering,   the set of at least one pieces of mounting hardware, and   the display board may be removed from the assembly such that a different mounting board with a different set of at least one piece of mounting hardware and a different window covering may be inserted in the display case.       

     Other aspects of the teachings of the present disclosure may be expressed as a process for using a single display case to sequentially display two different window coverings, the process including: 
     mounting a first set of hardware to a first display board to allow a first window covering to be attached to the first display board; 
     attaching the first window covering to the first set of hardware attached to the first display board; 
     mounting a second set of hardware to a second display board to allow a second window covering to be attached to the second display board; 
     attaching the second window covering to the second set of hardware attached to the second display board; 
     inserting the first display board with the attached first window covering into the single display case so that a first magnetic bond between the first display board and the single display case secures the first display board into the single display case; 
     manipulating the first window covering to alter an ability of the first window covering to block light from passing from a distal side of the single display case to a viewer on a proximal side of the single display case; 
     removing the first display board with the attached first window covering from the single display case after overcoming the magnetic bond between the first display board and the single display case that previously secured the first display board into the single display case; 
     inserting the second display board with the attached second window covering into the single display case so that a second magnetic bond between the second display board and the single display case secures the second display board into the single display case; and 
     manipulating the second window covering to alter an ability of the second window covering to block light from passing from the distal side of the single display case to the viewer on the proximal side of the single display case. 
     Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the disclosed teachings will be immediately apparent or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within the scope of and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
         FIG.  1    shows a front view of display case  100 . 
         FIG.  2    shows a rear side of a display case  100 . 
         FIG.  3    shows an enlarged portion of the front of the display case  100  showing the details of the upper right corner. 
         FIG.  4    is a look at the front of the display case  100  but with a focus on the lower portion. 
         FIG.  5    is a bottom, rear, perspective view of a display board  200 . Display board  200  has a bottom side  216  with mounting hardware  304 . 
         FIG.  6    is a front, left, bottom perspective view of the upper end of the display case  100  with an inserted display board  200 . 
         FIG.  7    shows the proximal face  228  of the display board  200  with set of blinds  300  and mounting hardware  304  on the bottom side  216  of the display board  200 . 
         FIG.  8    shows the distal face  224  of the display board  200 . The distal face  224  has the metal component  250  for engagement with the magnet  150 . 
         FIG.  9    and  FIG.  10    show a set of blinds  300  mounted to a display board  200  inserted into a display case  100 . 
         FIG.  11    shows the front side of a display case  100  with an inserted display board  200  (not visible here) and an engaged window covering  400 . 
         FIG.  12    shows a display case  100  with an inserted display board  200 . Notice that the mounting hardware  404  is attached to the proximal face  228  of the display board  200  rather than to the bottom side  216  as was used in an inside mount. 
         FIG.  13    shows a display case  100  with window covering  400  affixed via mounting hardware  404  to a display board  200 . 
         FIG.  14    has a process  1000  for using a display case  100  to display two different window coverings. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The presently disclosed subject matter is described with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different steps or elements similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover, although the term “step” may be used herein to connote different aspects of methods employed, the term should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described. 
       FIG.  1    shows a front view of display case  100 . The display case  100  may be rectangular as shown here or it may be square or some other shape that emulates a window opening. The display case has a top  104 , left side  108 , right side  112 , and bottom  116 . The four sides may be joined together to form a perimeter using any conventional means. The outer perimeter may have one or more handles  124 ,  128  to make the display case  100  easier to pick up and position for display. 
     The display case  100  has a bottom backstop. The bottom backstop  140  is on the distal side of the display case  100 . The bottom backstop  140  may have a distal side that is flush with the distal faces of the bottom  116 , left side  108  and right side  112  for aesthetic purposes although not required for functional purposes. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the bottom backstop  140  will augment the stability of the display case  100 . One of skill in the art will appreciate that the bottom backstop  140  provides a place where an additional magnetic bond can connect a window covering actuator to the bottom backstop  140  as some window coverings have an actuator that is normally mounted on the lower portion of the window. 
     Finally, there are blinds or shades that are sold for mounting on a door. As the door moves as it is opened or closed, it is common for those items targeted for use on doors to have a lower anchor plate to keep the item from swinging away from the door as the door is moved. The lower backstop  140  can be used with magnetic coupling to temporarily affix the lower anchor plate of the item to the lower backstop  140 . 
     The display case  100  has a top backstop  130 . The top backstop  130  is on the distal side of the display case  100 , flush with the distal ends of the top  104 , left side  108 , and right side  112  for aesthetic purposes although not required for functional purposes. The top backstop  130  may be connected to the perimeter formed by top  104 , left side  108 , right side  112 , and bottom  116  in any conventional manner. One conventional manner is to provide inclined screw channels  138  ( FIG.  3   ) so that a screw can connect a portion of the top backstop  130  to the adjacent side. 
     The top backstop  130  may have a series of spacers  132 ,  134 , and  136  although the number of spacers could be different from three. In a preferred embodiment, spacer  134  includes a magnet  150  so that a plane including a proximal face  144  of the bottom backstop  140  includes the proximal planes of spacers  132  and  136  and magnet  150 . 
     As described in more detail below, a pair of display board supports  162  and  166  define a lower plane to limit the position of a display board  200  (discussed below). 
       FIG.  2    shows a rear side of a display case  100 . This display case  100  has a top handle  124  on the top  104 . 
       FIG.  3    shows an enlarged portion of the front of the display case  100  showing the details of the upper right corner. Visible in this view are the screw channels  138  which is one technique known in the art for joining pieces of wood. 
       FIG.  3    shows that a display board  200  with a length that extends from the inner face of the left side  108  to the inner face of the right side  112  would be constrained by the top  104 , right side  112 , spacer  136  and display board support  166 . The left end of the display board  200  would be similarly constrained by top  104 , left side  108 , spacer  132 , and display board support  162 . 
       FIG.  4    is a look at the front of the display case  100  but with a focus on the lower portion. Previously introduced elements: left side  108 , bottom  116 , right side  112 , and bottom backstop  140  are visible. The bottom  116  may have a set of feet  168  near the left side  108  and the right side  112 . For additional stability, an optional outrigger  160  may be rotatably connected to the bottom  116  by swivel point  164 . 
       FIG.  5    is a bottom, rear, perspective view of a display board  200 . Display board  200  has a bottom side  216  with mounting hardware  304 . For purposes of orientation, the left side  208 , right side  212 , distal face  224 , proximal face  228 , and top side  204  are indicated. Distal side  224  has metal component  250  that is positioned to reversibly magnetically engage with magnet  150  in display case  100 . 
     Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the display board  200  will interact with display case  100  in that the metal component  250  on a distal face  224  of the display board allows the display board  200  to be inserted into the upper portion of the display case  100  and reversibly engage with magnet  150 . Once engaged, display board  200  cannot move proximally as it is engaged with the magnet  150 . The display board  200  cannot rotate around a centerline running through the magnet  150  and the metal component  204  as the display board  200  is sized to fit within the upper end of the display case  100  with minimal clearance so the top  104 , left side  108 , right side  112 , and the display board supports  162  and  166  of the display case  100  preclude any rotation of the display board  200  or movement in the lateral or vertical directions. Thus, a display board  200  may be reversibly attached to display case  100 . 
       FIG.  6    is a front, left, bottom perspective view of the upper end of the display case  100  with an inserted display board  200 . This display board  200  is inserted for point of illustration and does not have mounting hardware  304  on the bottom  116  of the display board  200 . The proximal face  228  of the display board  200  is visible but the distal face  224  with the metal component  250  is not as that face is engaged with the magnet  150 .  FIG.  6    shows an inserted display board  200  is trapped between the upper face of the display board support  166  and the lower face of the top  104  of the display case. Thus, the only possible movement of the display board  200  relative to the display case  100  is movement in a proximal direction but only after sufficient force is applied to overcome the magnet attraction between the magnet  150  and the metal component  250 . 
       FIG.  7    and  FIG.  8    show a display board  200  with an engaged set of blinds  300 .  FIG.  7    shows the proximal face  228  of the display board  200  with set of blinds  300  and mounting hardware  304  on the bottom side  216  of the display board  200 . 
       FIG.  8    shows the distal face  224  of the display board  200 . The distal face  224  has the metal component  250  for engagement with the magnet  150 . The set of blinds  300  is connected by mounting hardware  304  to the bottom side  216  of the display board. 
       FIG.  9    and  FIG.  10    show a set of blinds  300  mounted to a display board  200  inserted into a display case  100 . Notice that the assembly is sufficiently stable that the set of blinds  300  may be operated to go from an extended position in  FIG.  9    to a partially raised position in  FIG.  10   . One of skill in the art will appreciate that the blinds components can be rotated to move from a substantially horizontal orientation that allows light to pass through the blinds to a substantially vertical orientation that substantially blocks the passage of light. The details of how the set of blinds or other window coverings are manipulated to change the position of components within the window covering is irrelevant to the present application. What is relevant is the interaction between the display board  200  and the display case  100  forms a sufficiently stable temporary assembly to afford manipulations of the window covering in a stable assembly. 
     Outside Mount versus Inside Mount. 
       FIG.  11    shows the front side of a display case  100  with an inserted display board  200  (not visible here) and an engaged window covering  400 . The interaction between the set of blinds  300  and the display case  100  shown in  FIG.  9    and  FIG.  10    can be called an inside mount as the window covering fits within the space defined by the perimeter of the display case  100 . In contrast, the window covering  400  in  FIG.  11    does not fit within the perimeter of the display case  100 . The inability to fit may be that the window covering  400  is too wide for the display case  100  as some window coverings do not have very narrow versions. The inability to fit may be that the length of the window covering  400  exceeds the interior height of the display case  100 . In some instances as in  FIG.  11   , the window covering is both too wide and too long to fit within the interior of the display case. 
       FIG.  12    shows a display case  100  with an inserted display board  200 . Notice that the mounting hardware  404  is attached to the proximal face  228  of the display board  200  rather than to the bottom side  216  as was used in an inside mount. 
       FIG.  13    shows a display case  100  with window covering  400  affixed via mounting hardware  404  to a display board  200  (see  FIG.  11   ). By positioning the display case  100  near an edge of a table, counter, or other suitable item, the length of the window covering  400  can exceed the height of the display case  100 . The assembly formed by the display case  100  and display board  200  with engaged window covering  400  is sufficiently rigid that the window covering  400  may be manipulated to show the various configurations to block or allow light to pass through the window covering  400 . 
     Magnet Choice. 
     A preferred choice for magnet is a neodymium magnet. These are permanent magnets that are known for their strength and are widely available. The magnets come in a variety of pull strengths so a designer can choose the amount of force needed to dislodge a display board  200  from a display case  100 . 
     Process. 
       FIG.  14    has a process  1000  for using a display case  100  to display two different window coverings. 
     Step  1004 —Mount a first set of hardware to a first display board  200  to allow a first window covering to be attached to the first display board. 
     Step  1008 —Attach the first window covering to the first set of hardware attached to the first display board  200 . 
     Step  1012 —Mount a second set of hardware to a second display board  200  to allow a second window covering to be attached to the second display board. 
     Step  1016 —Attach the second window covering to the second set of hardware attached to the second display board  200 . Those of skill in the art recognize that the mounting of sets to hardware to the display boards and the connection of window coverings can be done in any order so long as there are two display boards with two window coverings for use in the rest of this process. 
     Step  1020 —Insert the first display board with an engaged first window covering into a first display case so that a magnetic bond between the first display board and the first display case secures the first display board into the first display case. 
     Step  1024 —Manipulate the first window covering to alter the ability of the first window covering to block light from passing from a distal side of the first display case to a viewer on a proximal side of the first display case. 
     Step  1028 —Remove the first display board with the engaged first window covering from the first display case after overcoming the magnetic bond between the first display board and the first display case that previously secured the first display board into the first display case. 
     Step  1032 —Insert the second display board with an engaged second window covering into the first display case so that a magnetic bond between the second display board and the first display case secures the second display board into the first display case. 
     Step  1036 —Manipulate the second window covering to alter the ability of the second window covering to block light from passing from a distal side of the first display case to a viewer on a proximal side of the first display case. 
     Alternatives &amp; Variations. 
     Bottom Backstop. 
     The bottom backstop is not required for all uses of the display case and one of skill in the art could omit the bottom backstop. Use of the bottom backstop can add structural stability to the display case and can be a place to have a magnetic strike to secure additional window covering hardware such as window shades that have magnetic hold downs. 
     Number of Magnets and Placement of Magnets. 
     One of skill in the art will appreciate that using one magnet will be cheaper than using more than one magnet. However, the teachings of the present disclosure are not limited to a display frame and corresponding display board with a single magnet  150  solely on the display case. One could use two or more magnets  150  on the display case with a corresponding number of metal components  250  on the distal face  224  of the display board  200 . 
     One of skill in the art will appreciate that one or more magnets  150  could be placed on the distal face  224  of the display board and that one or more metal components  250  could be placed within the display case  100 . Note, the use of one magnetic bond may be preferred as having more than one magnetic bond can lead to an issue when trying to remove the display board if one magnetic bond releases before the other magnetic bond and the display board attempts to rotate around the last magnetic bond. This issue is more of an annoyance than a failure mode but it leads to a preference for a single magnetic bond. 
     One of skill in the art will appreciate that if more than one magnet is used, that an elongated metal component could be used to engage with two or more magnets. Alternatively, one elongated magnet could engage with two or more metal components. 
     Rather than having a magnet interact with a metal component, one could have a magnet interact with another magnet if the polarity of the magnets was such that the interaction was attraction rather than repulsion. 
     The magnet or metal component could be recessed in the display case or mounting board providing that other geometries were adjusted so that the magnet and the metal component get close enough for a strong magnetic connection. 
     One of skill in the art will appreciate that rather than having the magnetic bond at the distal face of the display board as described in this disclosure, that the display board and display case could be adjusted to have a magnetic bond that interacts with the top face of the display board and the top of the display case. One or more magnetic bonds could be employed to bind the side edges of the display board with the sides of the display case. 
     Likewise, the pair of display board supports  162  and  166  which define a lower plane to limit the position of a display board  200  could be adapted to interact with the display board to form one or more magnetic bonds to reversibly lock the display board into the display case. It is likely that the components (magnets and metallic components if used) would be recessed into the surfaces of the display board and display case when using one or more magnetic bonds between the sides, top, or bottom of the display board and the display case but this is not required. 
     Adjustments to the location of the magnetic bond may lead to other adjustments of the specific size and shape of the display board and display case so that the display board is closely constrained by the display case. 
     Alternatives to Magnets. 
     Those of skill in the art will appreciate that while magnetic bonds are well suited for use in the temporary bond between the display board  200  and the display case  100 , that other options could be employed. Kitchen drawers and cabinets have a number of latching mechanisms that allow one object to move towards another and make reversible engagement with a latching mechanism. The force to unlatch is sufficiently high to preclude unintentional movement of the latched item. However, the force to unlatch is sufficiently low to allow a user to pull in the item and easily unlatch and move the item. 
     Illustrative but non-limiting examples of latching mechanisms include grab latches of various shapes and geometries and ball detent mechanisms. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the geometry of the display board and the display case may need to be altered in order to provide room for both the latch hardware and for the latch engagement. 
     Mounting Hardware. 
     The present disclosure shows mounting hardware  304  and  404  to illustrate inside mount and outside mount uses of the display boards. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that there are many different window coverings that have many different types of mounting hardware. The present disclosure extends to all types of window coverings and mounting hardware that would benefit from the teachings of the present disclosure. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the mounting hardware for a particular window covering may use a set of one or more pieces of mounting hardware. 
     In many instances the mounting hardware will be engaged with the display board through the use of wood screws as the display board may be made of wood. However, this is not a requirement of the present disclosure. The mounting hardware could be engaged using adhesive, welding, or any other manner of attaching one component to another component as that is not a focus of the present disclosure. 
     One of skill in the art will recognize that some of the alternative implementations set forth above are not universally mutually exclusive and that in some cases additional implementations can be created that employ aspects of two or more of the variations described above. Likewise, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific examples or particular embodiments provided to promote understanding of the various teachings of the present disclosure. Moreover, the scope of the claims which follow covers the range of variations, modifications, and substitutes for the components described herein as would be known to those of skill in the art. 
     Where methods and/or events described above indicate certain events and/or procedures occurring in a certain order, the ordering of certain events and/or procedures may be modified. Additionally, certain events and/or procedures may be performed concurrently in a parallel process when possible, as well as performed sequentially as described above. 
     The legal limitations of the scope of the claimed invention are set forth in the claims that follow and extend to cover their legal equivalents. Those unfamiliar with the legal tests for equivalency should consult a person registered to practice before the patent authority which granted this patent such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office or its counterpart.