Abstract:
An improved display case may be used to show and eventually sell items such as jewelry. The display case is both aesthetically pleasing as well as functionally useful for displaying and selling items. Additionally, methods are likewise disclosed for preparing display trays without warping and for providing for ease in restocking items once the display tray is depleted.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to display cases and related apparatuses, for the display of jewelry and other items of similar size. The apparatus and methods disclosed herein relate to new ways to use the display cases, which function to offer choices to consumers. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    An improved display case is advantageously used to show and eventually sell items such as jewelry. The display case is designed to be both aesthetically pleasing as well as functionally useful for displaying and selling items. Additionally, methods are likewise disclosed for preparing display trays without warping and for providing for ease in restocking items once the display tray is depleted. 
     
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    The above-mentioned features and objects of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which: 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a display case of the present disclosure. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a display tray interconnected with a display tray connector via a cantilever device. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment of a display case connector, shown with a shelf articulated therein. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment of a display case connector, shown with a shelf articulated therein. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a display tray. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a display tray in use, wherein reordering information is provided on the display tray. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    The present inventor is a class leading jewelry designer whose prominence differentiates works from others, however, he needs to constantly innovate to continue to better display his works. Jewelry shopping and sales is a billion dollar business worldwide. Despite the large size of the business, however, each individual piece of jewelry is art. Nearly all pieces are one-of-a-kind, and discriminating buyers appreciate each piece&#39;s unique aesthetic, even when the overall form of the piece is similar to many others. Consequently, the purchase of jewelry is a personal activity in which the consumer&#39;s taste and eye dictate whether the piece is purchased. Consumers like to view, handle, and often “try on” jewelry pieces prior to making a purchase. Consequently, jewelers maintain secure display cases in showrooms to show the jewelry to potential consumers, where the jewelry may be removed and replaced with little effort. These type of display cases must be both aesthetically pleasing and flattering to the individual pieces, as well as functional. 
         [0011]    Jewelry cases are designed both as functional display media, that is, as a tool to efficiently and economically show jewelry pieces, as well as an aesthetic media to highlight the beauty and individual character of each piece of jewelry. Designers seek to maximize both the useable space within the case, while maintaining a degree of elegance that highlights the aesthetic of each piece individually. Often, these types of cases employ multiple shelving tiers and lighting solutions to accomplish these objectives. 
         [0012]    In addition to the artistry of the jewelry, cases may be designed by artists in conjunction with the pieces to highlight the pieces as part of an overall solution for showing or selling their products. These cases incorporate the functionality of a generic display case, while preserving the aesthetic elements that attract consumers and improve overall sales of the pieces. Tools, such as display cases, are therefore often copied for their functional features of both attracting customers and improving sales. 
         [0013]    Turning now to an embodiment of the present disclosure shown in  FIG. 1 , display case  100  is shown. Display case  100  is a structure in which items may be displayed on display trays  130  inside of display case  100 . Disposed inside of display case  100  is at least one display case connector  110 , to which one or more display trays  130  are connected. Display case  100  may either be enclosed or open, depending on the nature and circumstances of the items displayed. In embodiments in which display case  100  is closed, locking mechanisms may be added to prevent unauthorized opening of the case and access to the items on sale. The design and form of display case  100  is well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0014]    According to embodiments, display case  100  may be made from combinations of acrylic; glass; polycarbonate thermoplastics, such as Cyrolon, Lexan, and Tuffak; laminate; wood; metal; and other materials from which similar cases are made, as would be known and understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. The choice of material depends upon the desired aesthetic, as well as the functional features of the case. For example, a museum display case wherein high value jewelry is displayed may require a polycarbonate thermoplastic transparent layer disposed in a polished steel frame. Conversely, for other jewelry cases, acrylic and laminate may be sufficient to both be aesthetically pleasing and provide a modicum of security with a simple locking mechanism. In embodiments that are open, items may be displayed where security is not an issue. In these type of systems, a simple laminate or acrylic frame, with no transparent doors or windows, may be sufficient. 
         [0015]    Lighting may be provided to the items in display case  100  either naturally or with artificial lights placed inside of or outside of display case  100 . For example, display case  100  may have transparent roofs that allow natural light to filter through and prevent the need to install electrical outlets or devices within display case  100 . Conversely, display case  100  users may wish to use lighting to highlight various pieces and may install light fixtures accordingly. The decision and placement of a lighting solution for display case  100  is readily ascertainable and understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0016]    Disposed within display case  100  is at least one display case connector  110 .  FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of a close-up view of display case connector  110  with display tray  130  disposed thereon. Display trays  130  may be placed into one or more cantilever devices  120  disposed on display tray connector  110 . 
         [0017]    Display case connector  110  holds display tray  130  in display case  100 . According to an embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , display case connector  110  comprises cantilever device  120 , which supports the weight of display tray  130  and the items placed upon display tray  130 . According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , Cantilever device  120  comprises at least one opening in display case connector  110 . 
         [0018]    According to an alternate, similar embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , cantilever device  120  comprises upper cantilever lip  122  and lower lip  124 . Lower cantilever lip  124  may comprise the upper cantilever lip  122  of a lower display tray  130 . Similarly upper cantilever lip  122  may comprise lower cantilever lip  122  of display tray  130  disposed above display tray  130 . Display tray  130  articulates with cantilever device  120  via specialized parts. 
         [0019]    Referring now to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , display tray  130  comprises proximal lip  132 , distal lip  134 , and display surface  136 . According to the embodiment shown, anti-warping device  138  may be disposed in display surface  136 , which allows proximal lip  132  and distal lip  134  to be molded without warping display tray  130 . 
         [0020]    Proximal lip  132  is used in conjunction with cantilever device  120  to support the weight of display tray  130 . Referring back to the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , proximal lip  132  is inserted into cantilever device  120  at an angle. By angling proximal lip  132 , it fits within the opening of cantilever device  120 . Once inserted, a moment is formed at the opening of cantilever device  120 . The weight of display tray  130  and the area forming display surface  136  causes proximal lip to rotate about the opening of cantilever device  120  until it contacts an inner surface of display case connector  110  or cantilever device  120 , depending on the embodiment. Once inserted, display tray  130  is mounted on display tray connector  110  and ready for items to be placed upon it. 
         [0021]    According to a similar embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , cantilever device  120  comprises parts mounted to an outer surface of display case connector  110 . For example, upper cantilever lip  122  may be used in conjunction with lower cantilever lip  124 . Proximal lip  132  is inserted into a space formed by upper cantilever lip  122  between the inner surface of upper cantilever lip  122  and the outer surface of display case connector  110 . Once inserted, the distal-most portion of proximal lip  132  or proximal-most portion of display tray  130  rests on lower cantilever lip  124 . Lower cantilever lip  124  must prevent the forces of gravity from causing proximal lip  132  to slide from the cavity formed by upper cantilever lip  132  and display case connector  110 . This function may be accomplished by extensions on lower cantilever lip  124  that articulate with corresponding indentations in the proximal end of display tray  130 . The method of cantilevering display tray  130  in conjunction with display case connector  110  is well understood and known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Insertion may occur by angling display tray  130  or by sliding display tray  130  into position, as would similarly be known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0022]    Display tray  130  may only be inserted or removed at angles, depending on the embodiment, which prevent accidental disengagement between cantilever device  120  and display tray  130 . It may also be inserted by sliding into cantilever device  120  from the sides. 
         [0023]    Likewise contemplated, but now shown, display tray  130  may be affixed to display case connector  110  with an adhesive. Use of an adhesive requires no cantilever device, although a cantilever device may be used in conjunction with an adhesive. Attachment of display tray  130  is well known in the art and requires no further elucidation herein. 
         [0024]    Referring again to  FIG. 5 , items are placed on display surface  136 . Distal lip  134  prevents items placed on display surface  136  from falling to the bottom of display case  100 . Various traction providing surfaces may be affixed to display surface  136  to prevent items from sliding. Similarly, distal lip  134  provides a point where boxed items may rest against display tray  130 , to prevent them from falling to the bottom of display case  100 . 
         [0025]    According to embodiments, a method of restocking merchandise is disclosed and may be used in conjunction with the apparatuses of the present disclosure, although they are equally applicable to nearly any other display as well. According to an embodiment, restocking information is displayed on display surface  136 . The restocking information gives information regarding the item that was offered for sale on display tray  130  to ensure that the same item is restocked. To that end, further information may be likewise provided—for example, product numbers, names of the relevant distributors and their addresses. Additionally, according to embodiments, a picture or photo may be provided to more easily reorder the items, as well as facilitate ease of restocking the items. 
         [0026]    According to embodiments, the reordering information is displayed on a paper or card sized to fit onto display tray  130  without appreciable overlap. The paper or card may then be removed and replaced as choices in stock change or are updated. In other embodiments, each item has its own paper or card reorder information that may be placed on a shelf to identify the item being offered for sale in a given position on display tray  130  on a larger paper or card. Similarly, the paper or card reorder information may be introduced as part of a shelf restocking unit by affixing the paper or card reorder information with others for items shown on the same shelf. Such methods of affixing or otherwise combining paper or card reorder information would be well understood and known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0027]    According to the present disclosure, when items are for sale on display tray  150 , the restocking information is unseen. Only after the last item is removed from display tray  150  is the restocking information revealed. According to other embodiments, however, the information may be displayed on the underside of display tray  130  or on other parts of the display tray  130  that are generally not viewed by consumers. Thus, the aesthetics of the overall display case  100  are preserved while maintaining the primary functionality of the display case  100  and display tray  130  which is to advertise and sell items. 
         [0028]    A related method disclosed according to embodiments of the present disclosure is the formation of an unwarped display tray  130 , in cases in which display tray  130  is made from plastic, acrylic, or glass. Referring again to an embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , a problem with plastics, acrylic, and glass is that they can warp when heated. To create proximal lip  132  and distal lip  134 , however, display tray  130  must be heated to bend the plastic, acrylic, or glass to form structures on display tray  130 , such as lips. Because of the heating necessary to form the structures, along substantial portions of display tray  134 , the potential for warping increases. Warp preventer  138  is therefore introduced to avoid warping as structures are formed on display tray  130 . 
         [0029]    Warp preventer  138  provides a conduit wherein the plastic, acrylic, or glass may expand when heated to accommodate the heat induced expansion rather than by warping. According to the exemplary embodiment, warp preventer  138  is T-shaped. The inventors of the present disclosure have discovered that a T-shaped opening in display tray  130  is sufficient to prevent warping when display tray  130  is heated to form proximal lip  132  and distal lip  134 , by providing a relief mechanism for heat induced expansion of the material from which display tray  130  is made. 
         [0030]    Accordingly, the method, according to embodiments, comprises providing a T-shaped opening in display tray  130 . Depending on the size of display tray  130  and the specifics with respect to the bending requirements, multiple warp preventers  138  may be employed. Similarly, variations on the dimensions and shapes accomplishing the same objective may be used and will be apparent to artisans without undue experimentation, based on the size and structures desired for each display tray  130 . 
         [0031]    While the apparatus and method have been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so sa to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and all embodiments of the following claims.