Patent ID: 12239247

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various apparatuses, articles, or processes will be described below to provide an example of an embodiment of each claimed invention. No embodiment described below limits any claimed invention and any claimed invention may cover apparatuses, articles, or processes that differ from those described below. The claimed inventions are not limited to apparatuses, articles, or processes having all of the features of any one apparatus, article, or process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses, articles, or processes described below. It is possible that an apparatus, article, or process described below is not an embodiment of any claimed invention. Any invention disclosed in an apparatus, article, or process described below that is not claimed in this document may be the subject matter of another protective instrument, for example, a continuing patent application, and the applicants, inventors, or owners do not intend to abandon, disclaim, or dedicate to the public any such invention by its disclosure in this document.

In retail or other environments, it may be desirable or necessary to display articles for sale in secure display containers. The containers can be locked and tamper-proof to prevent patrons from touching the articles being displayed therein. The containers may also be fastened to a secure surface at a display location through, for example, a tether to allow patrons to handle and manipulate the display containers for viewing and/or sampling an aroma of the articles contained therein while deterring theft or misplacement of the containers. The present application discloses examples of display assemblies for securely displaying articles in secure display containers fastened at a display location. The display assemblies can allow for convenient detachment and reattachment of the display containers for transport away from and back to the display (or other) location. This can facilitate, for example, servicing, replacement, and/or more secure storage (e.g. during store closure, overnight, etc.) of the display containers and/or articles contained therein. The articles can include, for example, aromatic botanical specimens such as, for example, cannabis specimens.

Referring toFIG.1, an example display assembly100for secure display of one or more articles is illustrated. In the example illustrated, the display assembly100includes a display stand102having a first portion (in the form of a base104in the example illustrated) securable to a secure support surface106(shown schematically inFIG.1) and a second portion (in the form of a platform108in the example illustrated) detachably mounted to the base104. The support surface106can comprise a permanent and/or semi-permanent fixture or structure such as, for example, a counter, table, and/or other construction to which the display assembly100can be securely mounted to prevent removal of the display assembly100from the premises while on display.

Still referring toFIG.1, in the example illustrated, the display assembly100further includes at least one display container110adjacent the display stand102. In the example illustrated, the display container110is supported atop and fastened to the platform108. The display container110has a generally enclosed container interior112(FIG.8) for containing one or more articles50(shown schematically inFIG.8) for display, and in the example illustrated, is locked and tamper-proof to prevent patrons from touching the articles50being displayed therein. At least a portion of the container110is generally transparent to allow for viewing of the articles50contained therein.

Referring toFIG.5, in the example illustrated, the display assembly100further includes a locking mechanism114mounted to the display stand102. The locking mechanism is moveable between a locked position (shown inFIG.6in solid lines) and an unlocked position (shown inFIG.6in dashed lines). When the locking mechanism114is in the locked position, the platform108is securely locked to the base104to prevent detachment of the platform108from the base104, which can help prevent removal of the display containers fastened to the platform from the premises. When the locking mechanism114is in the unlocked position, the platform108is unlocked from the base104to permit detachment of the platform108from the base104for transporting the platform108and the display container110fastened to the platform108away from the base104. This can allow for the display container110to be securely displayed at a predetermined display location where the base104is mounted, and for convenient detachment and reattachment of the platform108and display container110for transport away from and back to the display location, which can facilitate servicing, replacement, and/or more secure storage (e.g. during store closure, overnight, etc.) of the display container110and articles50contained therein.

Referring toFIG.4, in the example illustrated, the base104includes one or more mounting features116for securing the base104to the support surface106. The mounting features116are inaccessible when the base104is secured to the support surface106and the platform108is mounted to the base104(see e.g.FIG.1). The mounting features116are accessible when the platform108is detached from the base. This can help inhibit tampering of the mounting features116by blocking access to the mounting features116when the platform108(and display container110) is locked to the base104, and by providing access to the mounting features116only when the platform108is unlocked and (at least partially) removed from the base104.

In the example illustrated, the mounting features116include a plurality of mounting holes118for receiving fasteners120(e.g. screws or bolts; shown schematically inFIG.6) to secure the base104to the support surface106(FIG.1). In the example illustrated, the mounting holes118extend through the base104between an underside surface122of the base104positionable over the support surface106and a topside surface124of the base104opposite the underside surface122. In the example illustrated, the topside surface124of the base104and the holes118are covered by the platform108when the platform108is mounted to the base104, and the topside surface124and the holes118(and fasteners120when the base104is secured to the support surface106) are exposed when the platform108is detached from the base104.

Referring toFIG.6, in the example illustrated, the display stand102comprises a housing having a generally enclosed interior126bounded by the base104and the platform108. In the example illustrated, the display stand102has a bottom wall128at a bottom of the display stand102and bounding the interior126from below, a top wall130vertically opposite the bottom wall128at a top of the display stand102and bounding the interior126from above, and a sidewall132extending vertically between the bottom and top walls128,130and bounding the interior126horizontally. Referring toFIGS.4and5, in the example illustrated, the sidewall132includes a sidewall front portion132aat a front of the display stand102, a sidewall rear portion132baxially opposite the sidewall front portion132aand at a rear of the display stand102, a sidewall left portion132cextending between the sidewall front and rear portions132a,132bon a left side of the display stand102, and a sidewall right portion132dextending between the sidewall front and rear portions132a,132bon a right side of the display stand laterally opposite the left side. In the example illustrated, the base104comprises the bottom wall128, sidewall front portion132a, sidewall left portion132c, and sidewall right portion132d, and the platform108comprises the top wall130and the sidewall rear portion132b. In the example illustrated, the mounting holes118extend through the bottom wall128of the base104and are open to the interior126.

Referring toFIG.4, in the example illustrated, the base104includes a track134extending along a track axis136, and the platform108is slidably mounted on the track134. Referring toFIG.5, in the example illustrated, the platform108includes one or more track engagement surfaces138for interlocking with the track134to constrain movement of the platform108to along the track axis136(and inhibit movement of the platform108in a direction transverse to the track axis136) when the platform108is slidably mounted on the track134. In the example illustrated, the track134(and track axis136) extends axially between the front and rear of the display stand102. Referring toFIG.6, in the example illustrated, the track134includes a first guide surface134afixed relative to the sidewall left portion132cand a second guide surface134bfixed relative to the sidewall right portion132d. In the example illustrated, each guide surface134a,134bcomprises a rail extending along the track axis136and projecting laterally into the interior126of the display stand102. In the example illustrated, each track engagement surface138defines a groove slidable over a respective rail and is fixed relative to the top wall130of the platform108.

In the example illustrated, when the platform108is mounted to the base104and the locking mechanism114is in the locked position, the track134prevents movement of the platform108in the direction transverse to the track axis136and the locking mechanism114prevents movement of the platform108along the track axis136. When the locking mechanism114is in the unlocked position, the platform108is movable along the track axis136for detachment from the base104.

Referring toFIG.6, in the example illustrated, the locking mechanism114includes a latch140movably mounted to one of the base104and the platform108, and a strike surface142fixed relative to the other one of the base104and the platform108. The latch140is positioned for engagement with the strike surface142when the platform108is mounted to the base104and the locking mechanism114is in the locked position, to prevent detachment of the platform108from the base104. The latch140is clear of the strike surface142when the locking mechanism114is in the unlocked position to permit the platform108to be mounted to and detached from the base104. In the example illustrated, the latch140is mounted to the platform108and the strike surface142is fixed relative to the base104. In the example illustrated, the strike surface142comprises a strike plate144fixed to the sidewall132and projecting laterally into the interior126of the display stand102. Referring toFIG.4, in the example illustrated, the locking mechanism114includes a key slot146for receiving a key to move the locking mechanism114(in particular, the latch140in the example illustrated) between the locked and unlocked positions. In the example illustrated, the latch140and key slot146are mounted to the sidewall rear portion132b. The key slot146is accessible from the rear of the display assembly100, and the latch140is in the interior126when the platform108is mounted to the base104.

Referring toFIG.2, in the example illustrated, the display assembly100further includes at least one retractable security tether150securely fastening the display container110to the platform108. The retractable tether150permits limited movement of the display container110away from the platform108to facilitate viewing of the articles50therein, and urges the display container110back to the platform108. In the example illustrated, the retractable tether150holds the display container110adjacent the platform108.

In the example illustrated, the display assembly100includes at least one tether port152extending between the interior126and an exterior of the display stand102. In the example illustrated, the retractable tether150is mounted to the platform108in the interior126(FIG.6) and extends through the tether port152to the display container110. In the example illustrated, the tether port152passes through the top wall130of the platform108.

Referring toFIG.6, in the example illustrated, the retractable tether150comprises a retraction mechanism156mounted in the interior126and a tether line158(in the form of a cable, in the example illustrated-seeFIG.2) extending through the tether port152between a proximal end coupled to the retraction mechanism156and a distal end secured to the display container110. The distal end can be secured to the display container110through, for example, a loop and fastener connection, adhesive, and/or in any other suitable manner.

Referring toFIG.2, in the example illustrated, the tether line158is extendible from the retraction mechanism156to accommodate movement of the display container110away from the platform108, and the retraction mechanism156urges retraction of the tether line158back into the retraction mechanism156for returning the display container110back to the platform108. Referring toFIG.6, in the example illustrated, the retraction mechanism156includes a casing160mounted in the interior126to an inner surface of the platform108, a spring-loaded reel in the casing160and around which the tether line158is wound for urging retraction of the tether line158into the casing160, and a casing opening through which the tether line158extends from within the casing160. In the example illustrated, the retractable tether150is mounted to an underside of the platform108, and the casing opening is in alignment with the tether port152.

Referring toFIG.8, in the example illustrated, the display container110extends along a container axis164between a top portion166and a bottom portion168vertically opposite the top portion. The top and bottom portions166,168generally enclose the interior112of the container110. In the example illustrated, the top portion166comprises a generally transparent viewing surface169normal to the container axis164and through which articles50in the container110can be viewed. In the example illustrated, the viewing surface169comprises a viewing lens169afor viewing the articles50in the display container110. In the example illustrated, the bottom portion168is also generally transparent.

Referring toFIG.3, in the example illustrated, the platform108includes at least one seat170shaped for supporting the bottom portion168of the display container110. In the example illustrated, when the display container110is in the seat170, the seat170and the retractable tether150cooperate to hold the display container110at an angled orientation, in which the viewing surface169is inclined from horizontal toward the front of the display stand102(and in which the container axis164is oriented at an oblique angle from vertical). This can help orient the viewing surface169toward patrons when the display container110is in the seat170to facilitate presentation and display of the articles50.

Referring toFIG.2, in the example illustrated, the seat170comprises a seating surface174for engagement with the bottom portion168of the display container110when in the seat170. Referring toFIG.4, in the example illustrated, the tether150is fastened to a bottom end at the bottom portion168of the display container110adjacent the container axis164, and the tether port152is positioned generally rearward of and at an elevation below the seating surface174so that the tether150pulls the bottom portion168downwardly and rearwardly into the seat170and urges the display container110into the angled orientation.

In the example illustrated, the bottom portion168of the display container110has a generally hemispherical shape, and the seat170has an arcuate curvature corresponding to the hemispherical shape. Referring toFIG.2, in the example illustrated, the seat170projects upwardly from the top wall130of the platform108. In the example illustrated, the seat170comprises a pair of laterally spaced apart support members176projecting upwardly from the top wall130. In the example illustrated, the tether port152is laterally intermediate the support members176.

Referring toFIG.8, in the example illustrated, the top portion166of the container110comprises a lid178and is detachably locked to the bottom portion168of the container110. In the example illustrated, the container110includes a locking ring180for detachably locking the top portion166to the bottom portion168. In the example illustrated, the locking ring180includes a ring first portion182fixed relative to the top portion166of the container110(through an adhesive, for example) and a ring second portion184fixed relative to the bottom portion168of the container110. In the example illustrated, the ring first portion182is locked to the ring second portion184with one or more removable fasteners186(e.g. screws) to inhibit tampering and/or unauthorized opening of the display container110. The fasteners186can be removed to detach the top portion166of the container110from the bottom portion168for opening the display container110to insert or remove the article50from the interior112of the display container110.

Referring toFIG.7, in the example illustrated, the display container110includes a plurality of scent ports188extending between the interior112of the display container and environment, and a plug190sealing the scent ports188. The plug190is movable away from the scent ports188to expose the scent ports188and facilitate sampling of an aroma of the articles50in the display container110. In the example illustrated, the scent ports188are in the lid178of the display container110, and the plug190is movably mounted to the lid178.

Referring toFIG.8, in the example illustrated, the display container110further includes a retainer192in the interior112of the display container110for retaining the article50at a predetermined location in the interior112. In the example illustrated, the retainer192includes an elongate mounting projection194. In the example illustrated, the mounting projection194is generally coaxial with the container axis164. In the example illustrated, the elongate mounting projection comprises a spike for piercing the article50.

Referring toFIG.1, in the example illustrated, the display assembly100further includes an information display system196supported by the display stand102adjacent the display container110for displaying information about the articles50in the display container110. In the example illustrated, the display system196is mounted to the base104. In the example illustrated, the information display system196includes at least one card holder198shaped to receive and hold an information card providing the information about the articles50. In the example illustrated, the card holder198comprises a transparent wall defining a card slot202for receiving and holding the information card.

Referring toFIG.9, another example display assembly1100is illustrated. The display assembly1100has similarities to the display assembly100, and like features are identified using like reference characters, incremented by 1000.

In the example illustrated, the display assembly1100includes a display stand1102having a base1104securable to a secure support surface and a platform1108detachably mounted to the base1104. In the example illustrated, a plurality of display containers1110are supported atop and fastened to the platform1108. Referring toFIG.11, in the example illustrated, a plurality of retractable security tethers1150are mounted to the platform1108. Each tether1150securely fastens a corresponding display container1110to the platform1108. Referring toFIG.10, in the example illustrated, the display assembly1100includes a plurality of tether ports1152extending between an interior and an exterior of the display stand1102. In the example illustrated, the retractable tethers1150are mounted to the platform1108in the interior and each tether1150extends through a corresponding tether port1152to a corresponding display container1110.

Referring toFIG.10, in the example illustrated, the platform1108includes a plurality of seats1170, each seat1170shaped for supporting a corresponding display container1110. In the example illustrated, when the display container1110is in the seat1170, the seat1170and the retractable tether1150cooperate to hold the display container1110at an angled orientation, in which a transparent viewing surface1169of the display container1110is inclined from horizontal toward the front of the display stand1102(to angle the viewing surface1169toward patrons when the container is in the seat1170).

Referring toFIG.12, in the example illustrated, a locking mechanism1114is mounted to the display stand1102, and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. When the locking mechanism1114is in the locked position, the platform1108is securely locked to the base1104. When the locking mechanism1114is in the unlocked position, the platform1108is unlocked from the base1104to permit detachment of the platform from the base for transporting the platform1108and the plurality of display containers1110fastened to the platform1108away from the base1104.

In the example illustrated, the locking mechanism1114includes a pair of laterally spaced apart latches1140movably mounted to the platform1108, and a pair of laterally spaced apart corresponding strike surfaces1142fixed relative to the base1104. The strike surfaces1142are positioned for engagement by the latches1140when the platform1108is mounted to the base1104and the locking mechanism1114is in the locked position, to prevent detachment of the platform1108from the base1104. The latches1140are clear of the strike surfaces1142when the locking mechanism1114is in the unlocked position to permit the platform1108to be mounted to and detached from the base1104. Referring toFIG.10, in the example illustrated, the locking mechanism1114includes a pair of key slots1146, each key slot1146for actuating a corresponding latch1140independently.

Referring toFIG.9, in the example illustrated, the display assembly1100further includes an information display system1196supported by the display stand1102adjacent the display containers1110for displaying information about the articles50containable in the display containers1110. In the example illustrated, the information display system1196includes a plurality of card holders1198. Each card holder1198is adjacent a corresponding display container1110and is shaped to receive and hold an information card providing information about articles50containable in that display container1110. In the example illustrated, the card holders1198are supported by the display stand1102in front of and at an elevation below the display containers1110.

Referring toFIG.13, another example display assembly2100is illustrated. The display assembly2100has similarities to the display assembly1100, and like features are identified using like reference characters, incremented by 1000.

In the example illustrated, the display assembly2100includes a display stand2102having a base2104securable to a secure support surface and a platform2108detachably mounted to the base2104. A plurality of display containers2110are supported atop and fastened to the platform2108through corresponding tethers (e.g. similar to tethers1150) mounted to the platform2108. In the example illustrated, the display assembly2100further includes an information display system2196supported by the display stand2102adjacent the display containers2110for displaying information about the articles50containable in the display containers2110. In the example illustrated, the information display system2196includes a plurality of card holders2198, each card holder2198for receiving a corresponding information card. In the example illustrated, the card holders2198are supported by the display stand2102behind and at an elevation above the display containers2110.

Referring toFIG.14, another example display assembly3100is illustrated. The display assembly3100has similarities to the display assembly100, and like features are identified using like reference characters, incremented by 3000.

The display assembly3100includes a display stand3102having a base3104securable to a secure support surface and a platform3108detachably mounted to the base3104. Referring toFIG.16, in the example illustrated, a plurality of retractable security tethers3150are mounted to the platform3108. Each tether3150is for securely fastening a corresponding display container (like the container110) to the platform3108. Referring toFIG.14, in the example illustrated, the display assembly3100includes a plurality of tether ports3152extending between an interior and an exterior of the display stand3102. In the example illustrated, the retractable tethers3150are mounted to the platform3108in the interior and each tether3150is extendable through a corresponding tether port3152to a corresponding display container. In the example illustrated, the platform3108includes a plurality of seats3170, each seat3170shaped for supporting a corresponding display container at an angled orientation (e.g. similar to that shown inFIG.1for the display container110).

Referring toFIG.16, in the example illustrated, a locking mechanism3114is mounted to the display stand3102. The locking mechanism3114is moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position. When the locking mechanism3114is in the locked position, the platform3108is securely locked to the base3104. When the locking mechanism3114is in the unlocked position, the platform3108is unlocked from the base3104to permit detachment of the platform3108from the base for transporting the platform3108and the plurality of the display containers fastened to the platform3108away from the base3104.

In the example illustrated, the locking mechanism3114includes a pair of laterally spaced apart latches3140and a pair of corresponding strike surfaces3142fixed relative to the base3104for engagement by the latches3140. In the example illustrated, the latches3140are mounted to the platform3108. Referring toFIG.15, in the example illustrated, each strike surface3142is defined by a corresponding opening3208in a bottom wall3128of the base3104for receiving a corresponding latch3140.

Referring toFIG.15, in the example illustrated, the base3104includes a track3134and the platform3108is slidably mounted on the track3134. In the example illustrated, the platform3108includes one or more track engagement surfaces3138for interlocking with the track3134to constrain movement of the platform3108to along the track3134. In the example illustrated, the track3134includes a first guide surface3134afixed relative to a sidewall left portion3132cand a second guide surface3134bfixed relative to a sidewall right portion3132dof the base3102. In the example illustrated, each guide surface3134a,3134bcomprises a groove in an inner surface of the base3104. In the example illustrated, each track engagement surface3138defines a ridge fixed relative to the top wall3130of the platform3108and slidable into a corresponding groove.

Referring toFIGS.17to19, another example display assembly4100is illustrated. The display assembly4100has similarities to the display assembly3100, and like features are identified using like reference characters, incremented by 1000. The display assembly4100includes a display stand4102having a base4104securable to a secure support surface and a platform4108detachably mounted to the base4104. In the example illustrated, a single retractable security tether4150is mounted to the platform4108(in an interior of the display stand) for securely fastening a single display container (like the container110) to the platform4108.