Abstract:
A blind display comprises a frame; a display opening in the frame; a series of display panel supporting members; and a series of display panels supported by the series of display panel supporting members. At least some of the display panels from the series of display panels are adapted to receive a display sample adapted to display a blind sample. At least some of the display panels from the series of display panels are displaceably, e.g. slidably mounted to the series of display panel supporting members and being visible through the display opening. A method for displaying blind samples and a kit are equally disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    No cross-reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a display system. More precisely the present invention relates to a display system for displaying blinds such that different types of blinds could be simultaneously displayed. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Blinds are used in houses and offices to dress windows. They come in various styles, shapes, patterns, textures and colors. Blinds are commonly installed on the wall next to the window to selectively cover the window when privacy is desired, or simply provide the desired fashionable look to the window. 
         [0004]    Shopping for blinds requires seeing many different blinds to find the blind the more suited for the specific environment in which they will be installed. Selecting the right type of blind and the appropriate blind color means doing many comparisons among a series of potentially interesting blinds. 
         [0005]    In order to really appreciate the distinctive visual rendering of a blind it is recommended to have samples of significant sizes because it is difficult to visualise what will be the effect of the real life installation when relying on a token-size sample. It is also desirable to compare different blind samples together to better see their differences and how they could live together in a common visual arrangement. 
         [0006]    Conventional blind displays use a frame on which is affixed a sample of each blind. The frame is then hung on a wall next to other samples of blinds. The amount of wall space needed to display a large collection of blinds is significant and it might not be possible to expose all the blind samples. Otherwise, this might cause some complications when a customer wants to compare different blinds that are not hung next to each other. Firstly, a number of “less-desirable” blind samples are in the line of sight of the customer thus interfering in the customer&#39;s appreciation of the “more-desirable” blinds. Secondly, the “more-desirable” blind samples could be removed from the wall to provide an easier comparison but this might easily turn into a sample management nightmare where many blind samples are piled on the floor instead than hung on the wall. 
         [0007]    Therefore, a need has be found for an improved blind display over the known arrangements. Similarly, a need has arisen for an improved blind display that would require less wall area and allow to display a significant number of different blind samples. There is also a need for a blind display that would facilitate the comparison between different blind samples. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    An aspect of the present invention provides an improved blind display over existing blind displays. 
         [0009]    Another aspect of the present invention provides a blind display adapted to secure a blind sample on a blind display panel. 
         [0010]    One other aspect of the present invention provides a plurality of blind samples adapted to be selectively moved between a superposed position and an adjacent position so that it is possible to hide a blind sample or position a blind sample adjacent to another blind sample to appreciate the difference between blind samples at the same time. 
         [0011]    One aspect of the present invention provides a blind display comprising a frame; a display opening in the frame; a series of display panel supporting members; and a series of display panels supported by the series of display panel supporting members, at least some of the display panels from the series of display panels being adapted to receive a display sample adapted to display a blind sample, at least some of the display panels from the series of display panels being displaceably mounted to the series of display panels supporting members and being visible through the display opening. 
         [0012]    Another aspect of the present invention provides a blind display wherein the series of display panel supporting members is adapted to selectively position at least two display panels from a superposed position to a juxtaposed position so that only one display panel from the at least two display panels is substantially visible through the display opening, when in the superposed position, and the at least two display panels are substantially visible through the display opening when in the juxtaposed position. 
         [0013]    Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of displaying blind samples, the method comprising providing a plurality of blind samples; installing each blind sample from the plurality of blind samples on a display panel; moving at least one display panel between a superposed position and a juxtaposed position with respect to another display panel; mounting a blind sample from the plurality of blind samples to a display module; and securing the display module to one display panel from the plurality of display panels. 
         [0014]    One other aspect of the present invention provides a kit of blind samples for use with a blind display, the kit comprising a display module adapted to receive a blind sample so that the blind sample can be seen through the display module; and 
         [0015]    a display panel, the display module being sized and designed to be removeably secured to the display panel with other display modules so that a plurality of display modules are capable of being appreciated adjacent to each other in the blind display. 
         [0016]    An object of the present invention provides a blind display that is portable, easy to assemble and inexpensive to manufacture. 
         [0017]    Embodiments of the present invention each have at least one of the above-mentioned objects and/or aspects, but do not necessarily have all of them. 
         [0018]    Additional and/or alternative features, aspects, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The features of the invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of a blind display in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the blind display; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a right side elevational view where a right side portion thereof has been removed to appreciate the internal layout of display panels; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a display module adapted to receive in its center a blind sample; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a right elevational view of a semi-assembled display module; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a right elevational view of the display module in the process of being assembled to a display panel; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a right elevational view of the display module almost assembled to the display panel; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a right elevational view of the display module assembled to the display panel; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the blind display depicting an alternate way of assembling a display module to a display panel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    The preferred embodiment illustrated in the Figures is one possible arrangement among other workable variations. These other workable variations are not considered to be enough materially distinctive so that a person skilled in the art of blind displays would not know how to adapt the present invention thereto. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a blind display  10  for displaying blinds samples  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 . The blind display  10  comprises a frame  20  defining a first side portion  22 , a second side portion  24 , a front portion  26  and a rear portion  28 . The illustrated frame  20  could alternatively be built with a different type of structure, like steel tubes or thermoformed plastic structural members, without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0031]    The blind display  10  defines a display opening  30  providing a visual access through the front portion  28  to the inside of the blind display  10 . The display opening  30  has a significant rectangular size, defined by a width  32  and a height  34 , to maximize the number of visible blind samples  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  (among other blind samples not numbered on  FIG. 1 ) displayed by the blind display  10 . 
         [0032]    Still on  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the blind display  10  further provides a display wall  38  adapted to receive textual or graphical information in relation with the blind products displayed by the blind display  10 . Cardboard clip and pictures can be secured on the display wall  38  with glue, Velcro® or using mechanical means like an upper and lower protruding lips (not shown on  FIG. 1 ) providing a convenient way to easily update the information on the display wall  38 . 
         [0033]    The illustrated blind display  10  includes a series of display panels  40  disposed, for example, on three rows  42 ,  44 ,  46 . Each row  42 ,  44 ,  46  superposes a series of display panels  40 . Each display panel  40  is illustratively a planar support on which can be affixed a number of blind sample, e.g.  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 . Blind samples  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  affixed on display panels  40  are preferably oriented like they would be oriented when installed in real life to provide a realistic effect. 
         [0034]    As seen in  FIG. 4 , each blind sample  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  is preferably individually framed with a display module  60  in order to easily secure blind samples  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  on the display panel  40 . Although it is more convenient to manipulate blind samples  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  when they are framed with their respective display module  60  it is not mandatory to use display modules  60 . Each display panel  40  is provided with a series of module connectors  42 ,  44  facilitating the installation of the blind samples  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  to their respective display panel  40 . The display module  60  and the interaction with the modules connectors  42 ,  44  (see  FIG. 6 ) will be described in further details later in the specification. 
         [0035]    Each display panel  40  is held into the blind display  10  with a series of display panels supporting members  46 . The series of display panels supporting members  46  are not visible on  FIGS. 1 and 2  although their positions are indicated by arrow  46 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . Each display panel  40  is connected to one display panel supporting member  46  from the series of display panels supporting members  46 . Each display panel  40  in a series of superposed display panel  40  is connected to a distinct display panel supporting member  46 . The connection between the display panel  40  and its related display panel supporting member  46  allows to slide the display panel  40  along the display panel supporting member  46  according to arrow  48  to selectively see the display panels  40  that are not already visible. 
         [0036]    The display-panel  40  is preferably attached from its upper portion to be suspended to its related display panels supporting member  46  via a set of rollers  47  (not visible on  FIGS. 1 and 2  but shown in  FIG. 3 ). One suitable type of display panel supporting member  46  might be a rail member, as exemplified in  FIG. 3 . The combination of the set of rollers  47  with a rail member would significantly minimize the friction between the display panel  40  and its display panel supporting member  46  thus facilitating movements along arrow  48  of the display panel  40  along the rail. An alternate type of display panel supporting member  46  could be a grooved member  50  at the bottom of the blind display  10 , which could accommodate a sliding of the bottom portion of the display panel  40 . Although it is a workable mechanism it is likely to be more difficult to move the display panel  40  along arrow  48  with the weight of the display panel  40  held by the grooved member  50  than the previously discussed rail-roller mechanism. 
         [0037]    In the present embodiment the groove member  50  is primarily intended to guide the bottom portion of each display panel  40  as opposed to bear the weight of the display panel  40 . It ensures that two superposed display panels  40  will not interfere with each other and reduces the risk of damaging blind samples  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 . 
         [0038]    As best seen on  FIG. 2 , lateral movements of the three series of superposed display panels  40  could provide enough room to completely see five series of superposed display panels  40  over the width of the display opening  30 . Since each display panel  40  from the series of superposed display panels  40  is connected to a different display panel supporting member  46  it is possible to laterally move a specific display panel  40  laterally out of the series of display panels  40  to juxtapose two display panels  40  that were superposed and compare the blind samples  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  affixed thereto. It is therefore possible with the blind display  10  to juxtapose a significant number of display panels  40  to compare the blind samples  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  contained therein. 
         [0039]    It is also easy to change the display panel  40  to put a new display panel  40  with different blind samples  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  inside the blind display  10 . This is a quick and convenient way to change the blind samples  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  available in the blind display  10 . Otherwise, as it will be exposed in more details later in the specification, it is always possible to change the blind samples  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  from a display panel  40  while the display panel  40  remains in the blind display  10 . 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 3  one can appreciate the series of display panels  40  seen from the side with their associated blind samples  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 . Each display panel  40  is hung by its upper portion to its related display panel supporting members  46  via its set of rollers  48 . The series of display panel supporting members  46  are secured to a supporting member frame  52  and the supporting member frame  52  is connected to a frame hook  54  on each side (only one is visible on  FIG. 3  given it is seen from one side, both ones are visible on  FIG. 1 ). In turn, the frame hooks  54  rest on the side portions  22 ,  24  in an easy to disassemble fashion thus supporting the supporting member frame  52 . 
         [0041]    A retaining base  56  holds a series of grooved members  50  at constant intervals. The retaining base  56  is supported by a plurality of height adjustment mechanisms  58  to maintain the retaining base  56  at the desired distance from the bottom portion of the display panels  46 . This adjustment is desirable to prevent the lower portion of the display panels  40  from touching the bottom of the grooved members  50  (as best seen on magnified  FIG. 6 ) and thus reduce friction while keeping the lower portions of the display panels  40  within their respective groove member  50  to guide the display panels  40 . 
         [0042]    It can also be appreciated from  FIG. 3  that the display modules  60  have different thicknesses  62  to accommodate blind samples  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  of various thicknesses. 
         [0043]    An exploded view of a display module  60  can be seen on  FIG. 4 . A module base frame  64  and a module covering frame  66  are separable to insert a blind sample  12  therebetween. Once the blind sample  12  is properly installed in the base frame  64 , the covering frame  66  is mated  68  over the base frame  64  to secure the blind sample  12  inside the volume defined inside the display module  60 . Openings  70  are provided in the display module  60  to see the blind sample  12  from both sides (assuming there is a corresponding opening in the display panel  40  and the display panel  40  is installed in the blind display  10  or that there is a display opening  30  on the rear portion of the blind display  10  to appreciate the reverse side of a blind sample). 
         [0044]    An upper module connector  72  is disposed on the upper portion of each of the base frame  64  and the covering frame  66 . Similarly, a lower module connector  74  is disposed on the lower portion of each of the base frame  64  and the covering frame  66 . Once the base frame  64  and the covering frame  66  are assembled the upper module connectors  72  and the lower module connectors  74  of both the base frame  64  and the covering frame  66  are temporarily unified (see  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0045]    As best seen on  FIGS. 6 through 8 , the upper module connector  72  is inserted as per arrow  76  into corresponding upper module connector  42  of the display panel  40  and then the display module  60  is pivoted (see arrow  78 ) until the display module  60  becomes parallel with the surface of the display panel  40 . After, the display module  60  is translated down along arrow  80  on  FIG. 7  and reaches its final position when the lower module connector  74  rests deep inside the corresponding lower module connector  44  of the display panel  40  (see  FIG. 8 ). It has to be noted that this type of connection is possible because the length of the upper module connector  72  is longer than the height of the lower module connector  74 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 9  illustrates an alternate display module  60  assembly with a display panel  40 . Instead of inserting the upper module connector  72  inside the corresponding display panel  40  upper module connector  42  in a front-loading manner as in  FIGS. 6 to 8 , the display module  60  of  FIG. 9  is simply slid inside the corresponding connectors  42 ,  44  of the display panel  40  laterally from one side thereof. 
         [0047]    Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, various modifications and improvements thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the claims appended hereto. The entire disclosures of all references recited above are incorporated herein by reference.