Patent Publication Number: US-6213313-B1

Title: Paint chip display system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/097,188 filed Jun. 12, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,927 entitled “Paint Chip Display System”. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The current invention relates to display structures and more particularly to paint chip display structures used in the sale of paints. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     In the marketing of paint it is desirable to provide paint chips to prospective paint customers demonstrating different colors and surface finishes corresponding to the effects obtained by using the different colors and types of paint being marketed. Such paint chips can typically be characterized as small pieces of heavy paper or cardboard having a finish on a front surface corresponding to at least one paint and color intended to be represented thereby. Display of such paint chips typically involves the use of suitable stands or display devices permitting a prospective paint customer to select one or more paint chips representative of the paint and color he wishes to purchase. 
     It is desirable to display such paint chips in close proximity to each other, in a stacked manner, to allow a prospective paint purchaser to concurrently compare various colors and finishes of the varying paints, while simultaneously being able to remove a paint chip revealing another paint chip representative of the same paint and color as represented by the removed paint chip. 
     One such device can be seen in the Crosslen patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,038). The Crosslen device has disadvantages in common with other typical paint chip display devices. 
     One main disadvantage of typical paint chip display devices such as Crosslen lies in the inability to either configure the display to allow for exhibition of the full face of each stack of paint chips displayed therein, or to allow for an overlapping configuration to decrease the required area for the display. It is desirable to display the greatest portion of the front face of each paint chip stack as is possible, given the structural limitations of the display area. Typical devices, such as Crosslen, obscure significant portions of each paint chip stack in a way such that they are not readily viewable by a prospective paint customer, and do not give the displayor the option of displaying the entire front face of each paint chip if so desired. 
     Another main disadvantage of typical paint chip display devices lies in the positioning of the paint chips within the display itself. Typical devices, such as that disclosed in Crosslen, fail to adequately protect paint chips contained therein, as a portion of each paint chip typically protrudes beyond the confines of the device. Accordingly, display devices such as this allow paint chips to warp or disform with time. Further, display devices of this kind often allow paint chips displayed therein to sag within the device, thus also causing them to warp or disform. This warping of the paint chips is highly disadvantageous in the sale of paints, and may require the frequent replacement of otherwise unused paint chips. 
     Furthermore, the relative angle at which paint chips are stored within a typical display device, such as Crosslen, with regard to a prospective paint purchaser, is typically not conducive to allowing a prospective paint customer to easily and accurately judge the color and finish of a selected paint chip, as the faces of the paint chips are often angled downward, or toward the floor. 
     A further known disadvantage of typical paint chip displays is the relatively high cost and difficulty of assembly of the display itself, as a typical display includes extensive cabinetry requiring a relatively large amount of floor space. Additionally, such devices are heavy presenting storage and shipping problems. Also, such devices are typically limited in their ability to be modified to represent additional or fewer paint colors. 
     Disadvantages of other typical paint chip display devices is the ability of the customer to remove the last paint chip of a select color and finish, necessitating the supply of paint chips thereof to be replenished before another prospective customer may view a paint chip corresponding to the previous exhausted supply. Accordingly, it is desirable to display a permanent paint chip, corresponding to each stack of paint chips representative of a paint and color which is non removable and adequately protected from attempted removal by a prospective paint customers. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a paint chip display device which allows for many paint chips full faces to be simultaneously displayed to a prospective paint customer. It is a further object of the invention to provide a paint chip display device which prevents paint chips contained therein from warping or disforming with time. It is a further object of the invention to provide a paint chip display device, which prevents a prospective customer from removing the last paint chip of a select color and finish. It is further objects of the invention to reduce the required floor space of the device by eliminating extensive cabinetry, and surface area of a given paint chip display by allowing the paint chip display to be easily modified to include space for only those paint chips which the displayor presently wishes to display. And, to provide a paint chip display device with a relatively low cost and ease of assembly of the device itself. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A paint chip display system including: a plurality of paint chip display containers each including: a plurality of walls forming a cavity, an open front face, at least one tab partially obstructing the open front face; and, at least one mounting protrusion extending outwardly from the container, and, at least one mounting bracket including at least one wall portion forming a mounting cavity adapted to receive the at least one protrusion and secure the containers in one of a plurality of positions; wherein, in one of the positions the containers are secured in a top-to-bottom or side-to-side configuration and in another of the positions at least two of the containers partially overlap in a front-to-back manner. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a paint chip display pocket according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 1A is a view on cross-section A—A of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 1B is a view on cross-section B—B of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 2A is a top elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2B is a bottom elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of a paint chip display unit according to the present invention mounted to a wall. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the paint chip display system according to the present invention utilizing an extrusion profile. 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a paint chip display pocket according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 5A is a view on cross-section A—A of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 6A is a front view of a preferred embodiment of an extrusion to which the alternative embodiment of the paint chip display pocket of FIG. 5 can be mounted to. 
     FIG. 6B is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a paint chip display pocket according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 6C is a bottom view of the alternative embodiment of the paint chip display pocket of FIG. 5 mounted to the preferred extrusion of FIG.  6 A. 
     FIG. 6D is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the extrusion of FIG.  6 A. 
     FIGS. 7A-7F are top views of an alternative embodiment of the paint chip display pockets being mounted to an alternative extrusion according to the present invention. 
     FIGS. 8A-8D are side views of a preferred embodiment of connectors for coupling extrusions together. 
     FIG. 9A is a perspective front view of another alternative embodiment of a paint chip display pocket according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 9B is a perspective front view of the alternative embodiment of a paint chip display pocket according to the present invention of FIG. 9A including a permanent paint chip. 
     FIG. 9C is a perspective rear view of the alternative embodiment of a paint chip display pocket according to the present invention of FIG.  9 A. 
     FIG. 10A is a perspective front view of another alternative embodiment of a paint chip display pocket according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 10B is a perspective front view of the alternative embodiment of a paint chip display pocket according to the present invention of FIG. 10A including a permanent paint chip. 
     FIG. 10C is a perspective rear view of the alternative embodiment of a paint chip display pocket according to the present invention of FIG.  10 A. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective front view of the alternative embodiment of a paint chip display pocket according to the present invention of FIG. 10A coupled to an extrusion according to the present invention. 
     FIGS. 12A-12D illustrate isometric views of another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 13A-13B illustrate a mounting apparatus for use with the container of FIGS. 12A-12D. 
     FIGS. 14A-14D illustrate containers of FIGS. 12A-12D mounted to the apparatus of FIGS.  13 A and  13 B. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a paint chip display system comprised of a plurality paint chip display pockets and extrusions for securing the pockets to a surface. Each pocket is capable of individually displaying a plurality of like stacked paint chips corresponding to at least one color and finish of a paint intended to be represented thereby itself. 
     In a preferred embodiment, each pocket of said plurality may be coupled to any other pocket of said plurality. Also, each pocket is mountable onto an extrusion which can be inserted into a slat of a slat wall or may be secured to any substantially smooth surface using any suitable means, such as adhesives or screws for example. In this way, each pocket is capable of either being displayed in a side-to-side or top-to-bottom, full-face fashion, or in an overlapping step fashion, with no modification to each pocket being necessary. Therefore, the present invention represents a significant improvement over the prior art, as it allows for flexibility in displaying paint chips. 
     More particularly, referring to the figures, wherein like references refer to like parts throughout the several figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a preferred embodiment of a paint chip display pocket  10  according to the present invention. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  1 A and  1 B, in a preferred embodiment Pocket  10  according to the present invention comprises a rear wall  20 , oppositely disposed side walls  30  and  40 , oppositely disposed top and bottom walls  50  and  60 , and retention tabs  70  forming a paint chip cavity  80 . The cavity  80  is of suitable size for holding a plurality of paint chips in a front-to-back stacked manner. 
     In a preferred embodiment the paint chip display pocket  10  is substantially clear or transparent. In a particularly preferred embodiment the paint chip display pocket  10  is made of clear thermoformed, extruded or molded plastic resins. 
     Biasing means  90  is for biasing paint chips contained within the cavity  80  away from the rear wall  20 , and toward retention tabs  70  to facilitate their easy removal by a potential paint customer. In a preferred embodiment, said biasing means  90  comprises at least one U-shaped incision  95  in said rear wall  20  forming a bent biasing tab  100  in the center thereof which partially protrudes into the cavity  80 . 
     The backside of rear wall  20  includes sample retaining tabs  110 . These sample retaining tabs  110  retain at least one “permanent” paint chip representative of the paint chips contained within the cavity  80  behind the rear wall  20 . Retaining at least one “permanent” paint chip behind the rear wall  20  prevents potential paint customers from attempting to remove the last paint chip of a given color and finish, thereby ensuring future potential paint customers will be able to view the representative paint chip even before the supply has been replenished. 
     In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the sample retention tabs  110  are substantially rectangular in shape, and situated near the comers of rear wall  20 . However, any configuration which adequately secures at least one paint chip representative of those to be contained within the cavity  80  to the back of rear wall  20  will suffice. 
     This embodiment of the current invention allows each pocket  10  to either be free standing or coupled to other like pockets as will be described next. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the top and bottom walls  50  and  60 , respectively include interlocking means  120  on their outer sides, oppositely disposed from said cavity  80 , for coupling paint chip display pocket  10  to other like paint chip display pockets. The interlocking means  120  on top wall  50  of all paint chip display pockets  10  according to the present invention are identical in form. Similarly, the interlocking means  120  on bottom wall  60  of all paint chip display pockets  10  according to the present invention are identical in form. Further, the interlocking means  120  of top wall  50  is the mate of interlocking means  120  of bottom wall  60 . This allows a paint chip display pocket  10  to be coupled to any other like paint chip display pocket in a top-to-bottom fashion, with the interlocking means  120  of top wall  50  of paint chip display pocket  10  coupling to interlocking means  120  of bottom wall  60  of any other paint chip display pocket according to the present invention. More particularly, referring to this same preferred embodiment, the interlocking means  120  comprises at least one protrusion  130  forming at least one gap  140 , both having angled edges  150 , where the at least one protrusion  130  of the top wall  50  is engageable with the at least one gap  140  of the bottom wall  60 , and the at least one protrusion  130  of the bottom wall  60  is engageable with the at least one gap  140  of the top wall  50  such that the angled edges  150  adequately couple the two paint chip display pockets together. 
     Alternatively, the side walls  30  and  40 , respectively may include interlocking means  120  on their outer sides, oppositely disposed from said cavity  80 , for coupling paint chip display pocket  10  to other like paint chip display pockets similarly as to those discussed for top and bottom walls  50  and  60 , respectfully. The interlocking means  120  on side wall  30  of all paint chip display pockets according to the present invention are identical in form. Similarly, the interlocking means  120  on side wall  40  of all paint chip display pockets according to the present invention are identical in form. Further, the interlocking means  120  of side wall  30  is the mate of interlocking means  120  of side wall  40 . This allows a paint chip display pocket  10  to be coupled to any other like paint chip display pocket in a side-by-side fashion, with the interlocking means  120  of side wall  30  of paint chip display pocket  10  coupling to interlocking means  120  of side wall  40  of any other paint chip display pocket according to the present invention. 
     More particularly, referring to this preferred embodiment, the interlocking means comprises at least one protrusion  130  forming at least one gap  140 , both having angled edges  150 , where the at least one protrusion  130  of the side wall  30  is engageable with the at least one gap  140  of the side wall  40 , and the at least one protrusion  130  of the side wall  40  is engageable with the at least one gap  140  of the side wall  30  such that the angled edges  150  adequately couple the two pockets together. 
     Further yet, in a third preferred embodiment the paint chip display pocket  10  may incorporate interlocking means  120  on both the top/bottom walls ( 50 / 60 ) and side walls ( 30 / 40 ) as discussed in the immediately preceding two preferred embodiments. The interlocking means of the top/bottom walls ( 50 / 60 ) may or may not be substantially identical to the interlocking means  120  of the side walls ( 30 / 40 ). Additionally, the interlocking means could comprise of a repeated pattern of protrusions and gaps, or of a pattern of protrusions and gaps which is not repeated on any single side. 
     Alternatively, each protrusion  130  may be formed in the shape of a T and hence not include angled edges  150 . In this alternative embodiment, each gap  140  is adapted to slidably receive and hence couple to each T shaped protrusion  130 . Referring now to FIGS. 9A-9C, in an alternative embodiment, each pocket  10 ″ includes interlocking means  120 ″ on an odd number of sides. Preferably, interlocking means  120 ″ are at least included on the bottom  60 ″ of each pocket  10 ″ for coupling each pocket  10 ″ to an extrusion  190  (as set forth below). 
     Also alternatively, as illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10C, each pocket  10 ′″ does not include an upper wall  50 ′″ being located opposite bottom wall  60 ′″ and interlocking means  120 ′″. 
     Referring to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1B, a beveled edge  160  is within cavity  80 , between the rear wall  20 , and the top wall  50 . This beveled edge  160  allows a prospective paint purchaser to more easily remove a paint chip contained within the cavity  80 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B, thumb indentations  170  are disposed in the top wall  50  and bottom wall  60  to allow a prospective paint purchaser to more easily remove a paint chip contained within the cavity  80 . In a particularly preferred embodiment, these indentations have an arcuate or arc-like shape. 
     In a preferred embodiment, referring now to FIGS. 2A,  2 B and  3 , L-hooks  180  are for slidably coupling the pocket  10  to an extrusion  190  and are positioned on the backside of rear wall  20  oppositely disposed from said cavity  80 . Each L-hook  180  has a portion substantially parallel to rear wall  20  and is of suitable size and strength to couple pocket  10  to extrusion  190 . However, any mounting means of suitable strength and configuration for removably coupling the pocket  10  to extrusion  190  will suffice. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the extrusion  190  is inserted into a slat of a slat wall, or may be secured to any substantially smooth surface using any suitable means, such as adhesives or screws. Each pocket  10  is secured in a non-overlapping manner, allowing for display of the entire face of each stack of paint chips, contained within each pocket  10 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 5A, in an alternative embodiment, the pocket  10 ′ is adapted to allow a prospective paint customer to remove paint chips contained within the cavity  80 ′ from the side as opposed to from the top (please note that the elements designated ′ correspond to those equivalently numbered elements of FIG.  1 ). As illustrated by FIG. 5, the biasing means  90 ′ of pocket  10 ′ includes two generally unshaped incisions  95 ′ in the rear wall  20 ′ forming two bent biasing tabs  100 ′ which partially protrude into the cavity  80 ′ of the pocket  10 ′. The sample tabs  110 ′ in this embodiment of the present invention include three tabs located behind the rear wall  20 ′, two near the comers of the pocket  10 ′ corresponding to the side wall  40 ′, and the third located substantially near the center of the opposite side wall  30 ′. Further, the pocket  10 ′ includes three retention tabs  70 ′, two of which are substantially semi-circular and the third of which is substantially rectangular. 
     In an alternative embodiment, referring now to FIGS. 4,  6 A- 6 D and  7 A- 7 F, extrusion  190  secures each pocket  10  or  10 ′ according to the present invention as hereto described in a manner partially overlapping, or stepped configuration with, at least one other identical pocket  10  or  10 ′, respectively. Accordingly, the overall area required by the paint chip display can be reduced, although portions of the paint chips faces will now be obscured. In the particularly preferred embodiment each pocket  10  or  10 ′ permits a displayor to either display the paint chips in a manner which presents their full face, or in a stepped configuration, without modifying each respective pocket  10  or  10 ′, depending upon the physical confines of the area in which the display is to be placed. 
     As illustrated by FIGS. 4,  5 A,  6 C and  7  the L-hooks  180  and corresponding portion of the extrusion  190  provide means for mounting each pocket  10  or  10 ′ according to the present invention in an angled, overlapping (IE. stepped) configuration to reduce the required space for the entire display. If the pocket according to the present invention is configured to allow for removal of paint chips contained within the cavity  80  upwardly and forwardly (as illustrated in FIG.  1 ), then it is preferred for the pockets  10  to overlap vertically (as illustrated in FIGS.  7 A- 7 F). If the pocket according to the present invention is configured to allow for removal of paint chips contained within the cavity  80 ′ from a side (as illustrated in FIG. 5 for example), then it is preferred for the pockets  10 ′ to overlap in a side to side manner (as illustrated in FIGS.  6 A- 6 D). 
     Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 11 only some of the L-hooks  180 , preferably those positioned in the lower half of each pocket according to the present invention near bottom wall ( 60 ″, or  60 ′″ for example), together with the interlocking means ( 120 ″ or  120 ′″ for example) couple to the extrusion  190  to secure each pocket ( 10 ″ or  10 ′″ for example) thereto in a partially overlapping manner. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 7A-7F, each extrusion  190  can be configured to hold any number of pockets in an overlapping manner. For example in FIG. 7A, the extrusion  190 A is configured to mount a single row of pockets  10 . That row may contain any number of pockets  10 , limited only by the length of the extrusion  190  and the physical limitations of the surface to which the extrusion  190 A is to be mounted. Referring now also to FIGS. 7B and 7C, multiple rows of pockets  10  can be mounted upon a surface utilizing the single row extrusion  190 A of FIG. 7A by mounting another extrusion  190 A above or below the first extrusion  190 A. Utilizing this configuration, the overall horizontal and vertical dimensions of the overlapping display containing a plurality of pockets  10  can be varied, thus providing greater flexibility in the system according to the present invention. 
     Referring now to FIG. 7D, therein is shown an extrusion  190 D according to the present invention which provides mounting for two rows of pockets  10 . Again the length of the rows are determined by the length of the extrusion  190 D and the physical limitations of the surface upon which it is to be mounted. Referring now also to FIG. 7E, as seen within FIGS. 7B and 7C, multiple extrusion  190 D can be mounted in a top-to-bottom fashion in order to provide a display containing the pockets  10  having the desired vertical dimension. 
     Referring now to FIG. 7F, therein is shown an extrusion  190 F according to the present invention which provides mounting for eight rows of pockets  10 . Again the length of the rows are determined by the length of the extrusion  190 F and the physical limitations of the surface upon which it is to be mounted. Again, as seen within FIGS.  7 B, 7 C and  7 E, multiple extrusion  190 F can be mounted in a top-to-bottom fashion in order to provide a display containing the pockets  10  having the desired vertical dimension. Preferably, the extrusion  190 F includes separating notches  200  which provide means for separating each row of pockets  10  from the others. In this way the extrusion  190 F can be broken up to create extrusions  190 A or  190 D for example. Therefore, the present invention provides yet even greater flexibility in providing a display system capable of having varying dimensions and being customizable to the physical space in which it is to be mounted. 
     In another alternative embodiment, the extrusions ( 190 D and  190 F for example) may be configured such that different rows within each extrusion accept different size paint chips. 
     Referring now also to FIGS. 11,  8 A and  8 B, in an alternative embodiment, the extrusions ( 190 ,  190 A- 190 F) are coupled to mounting board  210  using suitable means (for example glue, tacks . . . ). Multiple mounting boards  210  can be affixed or coupled together using any suitable means to provide a display of the desired dimensions. 
     Preferably however, multiple boards  210  are coupled together using pin inserts  220  and  230 . The pin inserts are removably coupled by a displayor such that the pin insert  220  engages with the pin insert  230 . Preferably the pin insert  220  is the male element including means  222  for anchoring such to a first board  210 , and engagement means  224  for engaging the pin insert  230 . Preferably the pin insert  230  is the female element and includes means  232  for anchoring such to a second board  210 , and engagement means  234  for engaging the engagement means  224  of the pin insert  220 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 8C and 8D, alternatively the pin insert  230  may further include and extension  240 , wherein the extension  240  provides a lip at one end of the board  210 . This lip formed by the extension  240  is preferably of suitable size and strength to prevent the inadvertent or unauthorized removal or excessive shifting of pockets ( 10  or  10 ′) according to the present invention coupled to an extrusion ( 190 ,  190 A-F) mounted to a board  210 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 12A-12D, therein is illustrated another preferred form of the paint chip pocket  310  according to the present invention. Pocket  310  according to the present invention comprises a rear wall  320 , oppositely disposed side walls  330  and  340 , oppositely disposed top and bottom walls  350  and  360 , and retention tabs  370  forming a paint chip cavity  380 . Springs  390  bias paint chips contained within the cavity  380  away from the rear wall  320 , and toward retention tabs  370  and open front face to facilitate their easy removal by a potential paint customer. The backside of rear wall  320  preferably includes sample retaining tabs  410 . These sample retaining tabs  410  retain at least one “permanent” paint chip representative of the paint chips contained within the cavity  380  behind the rear wall  320 . Again, this embodiment of the current invention allows each pocket  10  to either be free standing or coupled to other like pockets as will be described next. The top and bottom walls  350  and  360  respectively include interlocking tabs  420  and receptacles  430  for coupling paint chip display pocket  310  to other like paint chip display pockets. Each interlocking tab  420  comprises at least one protruding end  440  adapted to couple with a receptacle  430 . The receptacles  430  preferably take the form of a depression in the rear edge of bottom wall  360 . 
     The side walls  330  and  340  also include interlocking tabs  420  and receptacles  450  for coupling paint chip display pocket  310  to other like paint chip display pockets similarly as to those discussed for top and bottom walls  350  and  360 , respectfully. This allows a paint chip display pocket  310  to be coupled to any other like paint chip display pocket in a side-by-side fashion. 
     Each container  310  further includes tabs  480  and associated receptacles  490 . The tabs  480  and receptacles  490  enable multiple containers  310  to be coupled together in alternative configurations having varying degrees of overlap. In other words two containers  310  can be placed in a front-back partially overlapping manner such that the tabs  480  are coupled with select ones of the receptacles  490  (in the particular case of FIGS. 12A-12D three different degrees of overlap associated with the three sets of receptacles  490 ). In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 12 a - 12   d,  the receptacles  490  take the form of apertures near the rear edge in the side wall  330 ,  340  adjacent to rear wall  320 . 
     Thumb indentations  370  are disposed in the top wall  350  and rear wall  320  to allow a prospective paint purchaser to more easily remove a paint chip contained within the cavity  380 . Each container  310  further includes mounting protrusions  390  which preferably extend rearwardly from the rear wall  320  adjacent to the bottom wall  360 . Each mounting protrusion  390  includes an arrowhead-like tip portion adapted to be inserted into a mounting apparatus  500  and secure the container  310  thereto. The arrowhead-tip portions of the mounting protrusions  390  have two lips formed thereby. These lips are preferably offset with one another with respect to a cross-section of the longitudinal axis of the mounting portion  390  so they enable multiple containers  310  to be mounted to the apparatus  500  in a partially obscuring or overlapping manner, or in a top-bottom or side-to-side manner as is discussed with respect to FIGS. 14A-14D. In a particularly preferred embodiment, each container  310  further includes alignment pins  460  and alignment notches  470 , such that when multiple containers  310  are to be secured in a top-bottom configuration the alignment pins  460  are inserted into the alignment notches  470  to ensure the multiple containers  310  are aligned properly (see FIG. 14A also). 
     Referring now also to FIGS. 13A and 13B, therein is illustrated a mounting apparatus or bracket  500  adapted for use with multiple containers  310  of FIGS. 12A-12D. The mounting bracket  500  includes curved wall portion  520  secured to, and preferably integratedly formed with a planar backplane portion  510 . The apparatus  500  is preferably extruded plastic. The curved wall portion  520  forms a recess  530  adapted to receive and secure mounting portions  390  of a container  310  therein such that the arrowhead-like tip portion of each portion  390  is secured within the recess  530  by the curved wall portion  520 . Preferably at least one lip formed by the arrowhead-like tip portion is secured against at least one lip formed by the curved wall portion  520  at the outermost ends of the curved wall portion  520 . Each backplane portion  510  can be secured to a wall or other device using conventional means such as adhesives, nails, screws, staples or any other suitable means for coupling. Alternatively, the backplane  510  could be part of a display stand. 
     Referring now also to FIGS. 14A-14D, therein are illustrated multiple configurations which containers  310  and apparatus  500  can be secured in. FIG. 14A illustrates a top-bottom configuration having each mounting protrusion  390  secured to a mounting bracket  500 , the alignment pins  460  are secured within alignment notches  470  and tabs  420  are coupled with receptacles  430 . FIGS. 14B,  14 C and  14 D illustrate overlapping configurations such that various percentages of the faces of the containers  310  are obscured by other containers  310 . The configurations of FIGS. 14B,  14 C and  14 D, each have mounting protrusions  390  secured to a mounting bracket  500 . By having the lips of the arrowhead-like tip portions offset, as has been discussed, the mounting portions  390  can be rotated within the cavities  530  to accommodate varying degrees of overlap as is illustrated. Additionally, tabs  480  are secured to select sets of receptacles  490  depending upon what degree of overlap is desired. In the case of FIG. 14B, the tabs  480  are secured in the lowermost set of receptacles  490  providing a least degree of overlap among the embodiments of FIGS. 14B-14D. In the case of FIG. 14D, the tabs  480  are secured in the uppermost set of receptacles  490  providing a most degree of overlap among the embodiments of FIGS. 14B-14D. The embodiment of FIG. 14C illustrates the tabs  480  being secured in a middle set of receptacles  490  thereby providing a medium degree of overlap among the embodiments of FIGS. 14B-14D. In this way, each pocket  310  is adapted to be secured in a top-bottom, side-side or overlapping configuration using the same mounting apparatus  500 . 
     Although the invention has been described in a preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. It is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.