Patent Abstract:
When displayed, greeting cards are typically organized on a display fixture having multiple rows or levels upon which to sit the cards. Each row then has a front wall to hold in the card, yet is short enough to still view a portion of the greeting card above the wall. Because display fixtures are manufactured to have a specified amount of rows or levels at a specified depth, in order to adjust the specifications of a display fixture, other pieces may be used, for example, by attaching to the display fixture a convertible row to add another level or tier between set rows of the display fixture. By providing another row using a convertible row, another set of greeting cards may be displayed between cards displayed on other rows of the original display fixture, increasing the density of the overall display. Further, when an extra row is not desired, such a convertible row may be pushed flush against the back of the display fixture, while still attached, allowing the full depth of the row of the display fixture to be used.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     When displayed, greeting cards are typically organized on a display fixture that has multiple rows or levels upon which to sit the cards. Each row may have a front piece that holds in the card, yet is transparent or short enough to still view at least a portion of the greeting card. Because display fixtures are manufactured to have a specified amount of rows or levels at a specified depth, in order to adjust the specifications of a display fixture, other pieces must be used, for example, attaching a separate divider to the display fixture to add another level or tier between a set row of the display fixture. By providing another row using a dividing piece, another set of greeting cards may be displayed between cards already displayed on adjacent rows of the original display fixture, thereby increasing the density of the overall display. However, when an extra row is not desired, the dividing piece must be removed from the display fixture and stored elsewhere. This presents problems with storage and may result in a loss of the divider. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a card assembly apparatus for displaying multiple rows of greeting cards is provided. The apparatus comprises, in part, a display section with a back piece, one or more rows, and one or more front pieces, where a greeting card is placed on a row and portions thereof can be viewed through and/or above the front piece. The apparatus further comprises a collapsible row having a front divider and bottom divider attached at a joint. The joint permits movement of the collapsible row between a use or display position and a storage or non-use position. In the display position, the front divider is pulled out away from the display fixture, such that the bottom divider is perpendicular to the back piece. This allows for a greeting card to be supported for display on the bottom divider. In the storage or non-use position, the joint allows the front divider to be pushed against the back piece, such that the bottom divider is setting against the back piece. The apparatus also includes a divider clip that hooks on the front piece of the display section to separate cards and assist with maintaining the collapsible row in the display position. 
     In yet another embodiment, a collapsible row for use with a display section for displaying greeting cards is provided. The collapsible row comprises, in part, a front divider, a bottom divider, and a joint connecting the front and bottom dividers. The joint allows the collapsible row to be moved between a display position, where the front divider is pulled out away from a display section such that the bottom divider is perpendicular to the back of the display fixture to allow for a greeting card to be displayed on the bottom divider, and in a non-use position, where the front divider can be pushed against the back of the display section such that the bottom divider is setting against the display section. 
     In still another embodiment, a divider or support clip for separating greeting cards within a row of a display fixture and supporting a collapsible row is provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The divider clip includes, in part, a clipping mechanism to attach the divider clip to the display fixture and an adjustable portion capable of adjusting itself to support a collapsible row used in the display fixture. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features of the invention noted above are explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, in which  FIGS. 1-7C  illustrate several possible embodiments of the present invention, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an exemplary card display fixture with a plurality of divider pieces, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the card display fixture with a plurality of divider pieces of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  2 - 2 ; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are enlarged, fragmentary views taken generally in the areas  3 A and  3 B of  FIG. 2  and illustrate the cooperation between the divider piece and a clip; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a dividing clip constructed in accordance with a first embodiment and illustrated in an open or support position; 
         FIG. 4B  is a side elevation view of the dividing clip of  FIG. 4A  in a hooked position; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a second possible embodiment of a dividing clip of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate a third possible embodiment of a dividing clip of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 7A-7C  illustrate a fourth possible embodiment of a dividing clip of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings in more detail and initially to  FIG. 1 , numeral  10  generally designates a card assembly apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this illustrated example, the apparatus  10  includes a display section or panel or tray  12  for coupling to and support on a display fixture (not shown). The display fixture may be any standard display fixture as is known in the art. As illustrated, the display section  12  includes two permanent levels  14  for displaying greeting cards  16 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , each level  14  is defined by a ledge  18 , upon which an L-shaped row section  20  is supported. Each row section  20  includes a front wall  22  and a bottom wall  24 . Each front wall  22  is of a sufficient height to contain a greeting card  16 , while still allowing a portion thereof to be visible above the front wall  22 . Though not necessary, the row sections  20 , and in particular the front wall  22 , are preferably transparent, such that the full face of the cards  16  can be viewable. Each level  14  of the display section  12  also includes a rear wall  26  against which the greeting cards  16  would normally rest. The greeting cards  16  are supported on the bottom wall  24  of the row sections  20 . 
     To provide for the ability to change the display arrangement, the illustrated display section  12  also includes a plurality of convertible rows  28  that are capable of being moved between a use or display position and a storage or non-use position. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the display section  12  includes four convertible rows  28 , two to form an upper row and two to form a lower row. Alternatively, single convertible rows  28  could run the width of the display section  12 , such that only two convertible rows  28  would be provided. As illustrated, the upper left convertible row  28  is provided in the display position, while the upper and lower right convertible rows  28  are in the storage position. The lower left convertible row  28  has been illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a position close to the storage position. 
     Each convertible row  28  includes a front divider  30  and a bottom divider  32 . The front and bottom dividers  30 ,  32  are connected by a joint  34  that permits the two dividers  30 ,  32  to move relative to one another to create the two positions. In the display position, the front divider  30  is pulled out away from the rear wall  26  of the display section  12 . Such a position allows the bottom divider  32  of the convertible row  28  to be generally perpendicular to the rear wall  26  of the display section  12 , thereby providing another level or row to the overall display section  12 . Thus, in the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the top row of the display section  12  is able to display greeting cards  16  at its set or permanent level  14  and additional greeting cards  16  on a level provided by the convertible row  28 . The front divider  30  of the convertible row  28  acts similarly to the front wall  22  of the row section  20 , and serves to support the greeting card  16 . The convertible row  28  will be further described herein below. 
     The display section  12  preferably also includes a plurality of divider or support clips  36 . In the prior art, divider clips are clipped on the front piece (e.g., front wall  22 ) of a card row to horizontally separate different types of greeting cards  16 . In the present invention, the divider clips  36  may also be used to support the convertible row  28  and maintain it in either the display or storage positions. Multiple embodiments of divider clips  36  of the present invention are illustrated and will be further described below. 
     When a convertible row  28  is no longer desired for use in displaying a row of greeting cards  16 , it may be collapsed and the pushed back against the rear wall  26 , as illustrated by the convertible rows  28  on the right side of the display section  12  of  FIG. 1 . The convertible rows  28  may be moved from the display position to the storage position by folding the convertible row  28  at the joint  34  and moving the front divider  30  back against the rear wall  26 . This position and alternate embodiments are described in more detail below. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , a cross-sectional, side elevation view of the card assembly apparatus  12  in  FIG. 1  is shown. In this view, two convertible rows  28  are shown. The upper convertible row  28  is illustrated in the display position, with the bottom divider  32  generally perpendicular to the rear wall  26 . As will be further discussed below, a proximal edge  38  of the bottom divider  32  of the convertible row  28  is rotatably received in a horizontal channel  40  in the rear wall  26  of the display section  12 . The bottom divider  32  of the convertible row  28  supports the greeting card  16 , thereby providing another row to the set permanent row or level  14  immediately below that is also displaying a greeting card  16 . A portion of that greeting card  16  is displayed over the front wall  22  and a top edge  42  thereof rests against the front of the front divider  30  of the upper convertible row  28 . 
     The upper divider clip  36 , which is adjacent to the upper convertible row  28  in the display position, is in its open or support position. A movable portion  44  of the divider clip  36  extends downward and provides support for the bottom divider  32  of the convertible row  28 . This serves to stabilize and support the convertible row  28  when displaying greeting cards  16 . 
     The lower convertible row  28  of  FIG. 2  is illustrated in the storage position. The bottom divider  32  of the convertible row  28  has been rotated downwardly and moved to an orientation where it is closer to parallel to the rear wall  26  of the display section  12 , thereby allowing the convertible row  28  to collapse and rest against the back of the permanent row or level  14 . By being collapsible, the convertible row  28 , when not desired for displaying an additional row of cards  16 , does not need to be removed from the display section  12 . Such a configuration thus avoids the need to remove a divider and store it until an additional row is needed. Here, in the bottom portion of  FIG. 2 , only the set row of the display section  12 , formed by the row section  20 , is being used for displaying a greeting card  16 . 
     When the convertible row  28  is in the storage position, the divider clip  36  adjacent to it is adjusted so that it presses against the convertible row  28 , holding it in place against the rear wall  26  of the display section  12 . Note that a divider clip  36  may be used adjacent a convertible row  28  whether it is in the display or storage position, and is adjusted accordingly As will be discussed in greater detail below, an adjustable divider clip, such as divider clip  36 , allows for more flexibility when determining which position a convertible row  28  is to be used. One skilled in the art will appreciate that various embodiments of divider clips may be used, and will be discussed in more detail below. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , enlarged views of the divider clips  36  from  FIG. 2  are provided, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In  FIG. 3A , where the convertible row  28  is in the display position, the divider clip  36  is in its open or support position. The divider clip  36  has a body portion  46  with a notch  48  therein. The notch  48  is sized to receive an upper edge  50  of the front wall  22  of a row section  20 , as illustrated. The notch  48  may also receive the upper edge  50  of the front divider  30  if the divider clip  36  is placed on the convertible row  28  when it is in its display position to separate cards  16  placed thereon. The notch  48  may also include a raised rib  52  therein to assist with retaining the divider clip  36  on the front wall  22  or front divider  30 , as the case may be. While a notch  48  has been shown, one skilled in the art will appreciate that any method of attaching the divider clip  36  to the front of the display section  12  may be used in accordance with this invention. 
     The body portion  46  is connected with the movable portion  44  via an arm  54 . The arm  54  is preferably flexible such that it may be bent between the illustrated support and hooked positions. In that regard, the divider clip  36  may be made of a plastic and formed by a molding process. In such an arrangement, the arm may be naturally biased to a position intermediate the illustrated support and hooked positions. In this way, the arm  54  provides lift and secure engagement to the convertible row  28  when it is in the support position. 
     To assist with secure engagement with the convertible row  28 , the movable portion  44  is provided with a nock  56  in its outer periphery  58 . The nock  56  is intended to receive a lower edge  60  of the front divider  30  of the convertible row  28 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3A . In this arrangement, the clip  36  holds the convertible row  28  in the display position by preventing downward and rearward movement of the front divider  30 . Downward pressure on the bottom divider  32 , caused by the weight of the front divider  30  and any greeting cards  16  placed in the convertible row  28 , is transferred through the clip to the front wall  22 . Further, the body portion  46  spaces the front divider  30  from the front wall  22  and prevents forward rotation of the front divider  30 . 
     To further prevent unintended movement of the convertible row  28  from the display position to the storage position, friction arrangement is provided. In that regard, the proximal edge  38  of the bottom divider  32  is provided with a generally cylindrical tube portion  62 . The tube portion  62  has a longitudinal slot  64  therein adjacent a stop flange  66 . When the tube portion  62  is received in the channel  40  of the rear wall  26  of the display section  12 , a longitudinal ridge  68  is received in the slot  64  when the bottom divider  32  is in a generally horizontal position, as illustrated in  FIG. 3A  and which corresponds with the convertible row  28  being in its display position. The ridge  68  in the slot  64  discourages rotational movement of the tube portion  62  in a direction where the ridge  68  is moved out of the slot  64 , as such requires the tube portion  62  to be compressed, as illustrated in  FIG. 3B . This is helpful when the convertible row  28  is first placed in the display position before the divider clips  36  can be hooked on to the bottom of the convertible row  28 . The stop flange  66  discourages rotational movement of the tube portion  62  in a direction past that needed for the display position. 
     In  FIG. 3B , where the convertible row  28  is in the storage position, the divider clip  36  is in its hooked position. In this position, the arm  54  is generally perpendicular to the rear wall  26  of the display section  12  and preferably presses against the convertible row  28  to keep it collapsed and in the storage position. To maintain the divider clip  36  in the hooked position, the divider clip  36 , in this embodiment, includes a projection  70  that extends outwardly from a side of the arm  54  and is received in an aperture  72  of a tab  74  that extends from the body portion  46  of the divider clip  36 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . Alternate embodiments of divider clips are illustrated and will be described below. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate alternate views of the first embodiment of the divider clip  36 . In this illustrated embodiment, the divider clip  36  comprises a singular piece of material.  FIG. 4A  shows the divider clip  36  is in its open or support position that corresponds with the convertible row  28  being in the display position, as discussed above.  FIG. 4B  shows the divider clip  36  is in its hooked position that corresponds with the convertible row  28  being in the in a storage position. As can be seen, the projection  70  is received in the aperture  72  to secure the movable portion  44  in a location to abut the front divider  30  of a convertible row  28  to maintain it in a storage position. 
     The divider clip  36  may also be provided with a recess portion  75  in the body portion  46  adjacent to and of a corresponding shape as the notch  48 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , the notch may be part of a clipping member  77  that extends laterally outward from the body portion  46 . The recess portion is adjacent a proximal end  79  of the clipping member and is designed to receive a distal end  81  of a clipping member  77  of another divider clip  36  placed adjacent thereto. This arrangement allows for a plurality of divider clips  36  to be coupled together for easy storage and to support the ease/speed of installation of the divider clips  36  during a reset/conversion of a display or a reduction/increase in the number of rows. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an alternative embodiment of a divider clip  36  is illustrated, in accordance with the present invention. The divider clip  36  has a body portion  76  with a clipping member  78  for attaching the divider clip  36  to a front wall  22  or front divider  30 . The divider clip further includes an adjustable portion  80 , which connects to the body portion  76  of the divider clip  502  via a bend  82 . The bend  82  functions similar to the arm  54  and biases the adjustable portion  80  to the position illustrated. The divider clip  36  further includes a hook  84  extending from a lower portion of the body potion  76  and having a notch  86 . 
     In this embodiment, the divider clip  36  is illustrated in a position for use when the convertible row  28  is in the storage position. The adjustable portion  80  extends away from the body portion  76  of the divider clip  36  to press against the front divider  30 , which itself rests against the rear wall  26  of the display section  12 , as described above. When a convertible row  28  is used in the display position, the bend  82  will flex, and the adjustable portion  80  will be moved back into a correspondingly shaped cutout  88 . The lower edge  60  of a front divider  30  will then rest or otherwise be secured in the notch  86  of the hook  84 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 6A-6C , a third possible embodiment of a divider clip  36  is shown, in accordance with the present invention. Here, the divider clip  36  includes a fixed portion  90  and a rotatable portion  92 . These portions  90 ,  92  are connected at joint  94 , about which the rotatable portion  92  pivots. The fixed portion  90  includes a clipping mechanism  96  for attaching the clip  36  to a front wall  22  or front divider  30 . When a convertible row  28  is in a display position, the divider clip  36  oriented to the position illustrated in  FIGS. 6A and 6C , where the rotatable portion  92  is generally parallel to the fixed portion  90 . In this arrangement, a ledge  98  extends outwardly from a lower edge  100  of the rotatable portion  92  and is used to support the lower edge  60  of the front divider  30  of the convertible row  28 , as discussed above with respect to  FIG. 3A .  FIG. 6B  illustrates the rotatable portion  92  rotated to be generally perpendicular to the fixed portion  90 , which is the position of the divider clip  36  when the convertible row  28  is in a storage position. 
       FIGS. 7A-7C  illustrate a fourth possible embodiment of a divider clip  36 , where the divider clip includes two separate pieces: a clipping portion  102 , which includes a clipping mechanism  104 , and an adjustable portion  106 , which slides on the clipping portion  102 . Flaps  108  secure the fixed portion  102  against a back  110  of the adjustable portion  106 . When a convertible row  28  is in a display position, the divider clip  36  is oriented to the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 7A . Here, both the clipping portion  102  and the adjustable portion  106  are generally parallel to each other. A ledge  112  extends outwardly from a lower edge  114  of the adjustable portion  106  and is used to support the lower edge  60  of the front divider  30  of the convertible row  28 , in a manner similar to that discussed above with respect to  FIG. 6A . The ledge  112  thereby supports the convertible row  28  and works to maintain it in the display position.  FIG. 7B  illustrates how these pieces  102 ,  106  fit together when used in connection with a convertible row  28  in the display position. 
     When the convertible row  28  is in a storage position, the divider clip  700  may be reconfigured to the arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 7C . In this illustrated example, the adjustable portion  106  is secured to the clipping portion  102  by rotating it approximately 90° and receiving the clipping portion  102  in a transverse opening  116  in the adjustable portion  106  that is defined by the flaps  108  and sides  118  and  120  ( FIG. 7A ). 
     Many variations can be made to the illustrated embodiments of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention. Such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the convertible rows  28  can span the entire width of the display section  12 . Similarly, while the joint  34  is illustrated as constructed in the illustrated manner, other versions of the joint that permit movement between the front divider  30  and the bottom divider  32  (such as a hinge type mechanism) are possible and within the scope of the present invention. Additionally, the display sections  12  can be molded with features or apertures in the rear of the section to facilitate coupling of the display section  12  to a display fixture. It should be noted that the increase of the row depth when a convertible row  28  is collapsed allows for the display of product having an increased product depth. Further, while the present invention has been described in connection with the display of greeting cards, the present invention is not limited to such a narrow use. Non-card products can be displayed as well. Other modifications would be within the scope of the present invention. 
     From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with the other advantages which are clear following the complete disclosure above and which are inherent to the methods and apparatuses described herein. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the invention. 
     Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative of applications of the principles of this invention, and not in a limiting sense.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0