Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a lighting fixture display apparatus and, more particularly, to a system and method for displaying multiple types of floor-based lighting fixtures in a shelf-like structural manner. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Consumer selection of lamps and other lighting fixtures is primarily based on functionality and appearance. Many different lighting options and lamp and fixture designs exist, such as table lamps, floor lamps, and wall-mounted and ceiling-mounted fixtures, among many others. Each type of lighting fixture or lamp is made in a variety of styles and designs. For example, the manufacture and sale of decorative lamp shades for table lamps is an industry in and of itself. A retailer of lighting fixtures or lamps is more likely to present a customer with one or more items that he or she will want to purchase if the customer is able to choose from a large number of designs and styles of any one kind of lighting fixture. Therefore, a retailer will generally want to maximize the number of items that a customer can conveniently view in the retailer&#39;s available space. In addition, it is advantageous for a retailer of such items to be able to display them so that the decorative features of each item can be readily and easily seen without manipulation by the retailer or customer handling. 
     Another consideration for retailers of lighting fixtures and lamps is the flexibility of a display system to enable the retailer to rapidly and easily modify the items on display, whether to update a line of items, remove old or damaged items, or reconfigure the display to accommodate more or fewer items, depending on the size of each lamp or fixture and the overall appearance of the display. The requirement that an electrical connection be available for each item can limit the flexibility of any lighting display system. 
     With respect to table lamps and wall-mounted and ceiling-mounted lighting fixtures, a number of systems have been developed to meet retailers&#39; needs. In particular, systems for displaying lamps on tilted shelves, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,066 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,644, maximize retail space for displaying various types of lamps and enable the items to be displayed at an angle so that the decorative base of each lamp can be seen. Another example is the energy efficient system for displaying wall-mounted and ceiling-mounted lighting fixtures, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,460, in which the ceiling-mounted lighting fixtures are supported by horizontally-extending projections that are permanently attached to a vertical wall. 
     Further examples include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,921, which discloses a lighting fixture display system that supports wall-mounted lighting and related items; U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,705, which discloses a system including a vertical grooved panel and plurality of horizontal brackets mounted thereon for displaying electrical fixtures including wall-mounted lighting fixtures; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,147, which discloses a system of fixture-supporting brackets that extend vertically or diagonally from wall-mounted channel members. 
     Floor lamps such as torchieres present unique problems to a retailer. Such lamps usually have a tall stem portion with a base and a bowl-shaped top part that diffuses the light or directs it upward. The top bowl-shaped part likely has the most decorative features and must be viewable to customers. Floor lamps take up a significant portion of a retailer&#39;s floor space, and cannot be practically displayed elsewhere without obscuring or making it difficult for a customer to see the decorative features of the top bowl-shaped part. Like a table lamp, a floor lamp usually requires an electrical connection at its base. However, due to the dimensions and unwieldy shape of most floor lamps, displaying such lamps anywhere other than on the floor has been a practical impossibility. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the invention to provide a lighting fixture display system for displaying floor-based lighting fixtures in a manner that is attractive and relatively space efficient. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a lighting fixture display system that is designed to minimize the need for manipulation or handling of the fixtures by the retailer or customer in order for the fixture to be viewed. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a lighting fixture display system that is relatively easy to set up and that is also sufficiently flexible to allow variation in the size, quantity, and style of lighting fixtures or lamps displayed and to allow variation of the overall configuration of the lighting fixture display. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a lighting fixture display system comprises a support member and a rail member. The support member includes a shelf structure and a bracket for attachment to the shelf structure. The support member is coupled to the rail member, which provides an electrical connection, and each support member is adapted to support a lighting fixture. 
     As an aspect of the present embodiment, the shelf structure is adapted to receive a segment of the rail member. 
     As a further aspect of this embodiment, the bracket is attached, at one end, to the shelf structure, and at an opposite end, to the rail member. 
     As another aspect of this embodiment, a plurality of support members are disposed along the length of the rail member, for the display of a plurality of lighting fixtures. 
     As yet another aspect of this embodiment, a plurality of rail members are provided, to which a plurality of support members are coupled, forming at least first and second horizontal display rows. 
     As another aspect of this embodiment, the lighting fixture display system further comprises a display wall, to which the plurality of rail members can be attached to form a plurality of variously configurable horizontal display rows. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a lighting fixture display system comprises a plurality of support members, each of which includes a shelf structure and a bracket for attachment to the shelf structure, a rail member which provides an electrical connection, and a plurality of lighting fixtures. Each of the lighting fixtures is supported by a respective one of the support members, and each support member is coupled to the rail member. 
     As an aspect of this embodiment, each of the support members is disposed along the rail member so as to be adapted to support a respective one of the lighting fixtures without interfering with an adjacent lighting fixture supported by another support member. 
     As another aspect of this embodiment, the display system includes a plurality of rail members to which the plurality of support members are coupled, forming at least first and second horizontal display rows, and a display wall on which the plurality of rails may be mounted. A first plurality of support members are coupled to and disposed along the first display row, a second plurality of support members are coupled to and disposed along the second display row, a first plurality of lighting fixtures being supported by selected ones of the first plurality of support members, and the second plurality of lighting fixtures being supported by selected ones of the second plurality of support members. 
     As yet another aspect of this embodiment, each support member comprises a plurality of brackets, each of which is attached, at one end, to the respective shelf structure and is attached, at an opposite end, to one of the plurality of rail members. 
     As an additional aspect of this embodiment, each of selected ones of the support members is adapted to support a truncated floor lamp. 
     As a feature of this aspect, the shelf structure of each support member is formed with an aperture through which an electrical cord can be threaded and connected to the electrical connection provided by the rail member. 
     In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, a method of setting up a lighting fixture display system comprises the steps of providing a rail member and a plurality of support members, each support member including a shelf structure and a bracket, each shelf structure adapted to receive, at one end, the rail member; connecting each shelf structure to the rail member with a bracket; and installing a plurality of lighting fixtures on the shelf structures of the support members. 
     As an aspect of this embodiment, the installing step is carried out by installing each of the plurality of lighting fixtures on a respective one of the shelf structures. 
     As another aspect of this embodiment, each of the support members is positioned on the rail member so that a lighting fixture supported by a support member does not interfere with a lighting fixture supported by an adjacent support member. 
     As a further aspect of this embodiment, the step of providing a support member comprises providing a plurality of rail members and a plurality of shelf structures defining at least first and second display rows; the connecting step comprises connecting a first plurality of shelf structures to a first rail member with a first plurality of brackets and connecting a second plurality of shelf structures to a second rail member with a second plurality of brackets; and the installing step comprises installing a first plurality of lighting fixtures along the first display row, and installing a second plurality of lighting fixtures along the second display row. 
     As an additional aspect of this embodiment, the providing step further comprises providing a shelf member having an aperture and the installing step of installing a lighting fixture on the shelf member further comprises threading an electrical cord of the lighting fixture through the aperture of each shelf member so that each of the support members supports a truncated floor-based lighting fixture. 
     As yet a further aspect of this embodiment, the method further comprises the step of removing a selected one of the lighting fixtures from one of the support members without interfering with lighting fixtures supported by adjacent support members. 
     Various other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will best be appreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of a side view of an exemplary lighting fixture display system showing a lighting fixture supported thereby in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing of a perspective view of the lighting fixture display system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing of a front view of a configuration of lighting fixture display systems, showing a plurality of floor-based lighting fixtures supported by the display system mounted on a display wall; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic drawing of a perspective view of a lighting fixture display system showing a plurality of support members and rail members in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a shelf structure of the support member shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 5B  is a top view of the shelf structure shown in  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 5C  is a side view of the shelf structure shown in  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 6A  is a schematic side view of a bracket of the support member shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6B  is a schematic perspective view of the bracket shown in  FIG. 6A ; 
         FIG. 7A  is a schematic top view of a rail member of the display system shown in  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 7B  is a front view of the rail member shown in  FIG. 7A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of an exemplary lighting fixture display system in accordance with the present invention. Lighting fixture display system  10  (hereinafter, display system  10 ) enables the display of a truncated floor-based lighting fixture  12 , along a vertical wall or display wall  15 , in a manner that is easy to assemble and is attractive to customers. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the truncated floor-based lighting fixture  12  includes a stem portion and a bowl-shaped top part. The shape and size of the top bowl-shaped part and the decorative features in the area where the top bowl-shaped part meets the stem are usually the most important features of a floor-based lamp for the customer to be able to see. 
     The display system  10  includes a support member  20  and rail member  30  to which the support member is attached. The rail member  30  may be mounted on or attached to the display wall  15 . The rail member  30  also provides an electrical connection to receive an electrical cord  35  from the truncated lighting fixture  12 . The support member  20  includes a shelf structure  22  which extends horizontally outward from the vertical display wall  15 . As shown in  FIG. 1  and described in further detail below with reference to  FIGS. 5A-5C , the shelf structure  22  is adapted to receive or fit onto the rail member  30  at its end closest to the display wall  15 . The shelf structure  22  is also adapted to support a truncated lighting fixture  12 , as will also be described in further detail. A label  23  or other display identifying object may be placed at the end of the shelf structure  22  opposite the display wall  15 , as more clearly shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     A bracket  24  supports the shelf structure  22  and is attached thereto at an end opposite the display wall  15 . The bracket  24  is coupled between the shelf structure  22  and the rail member  30 , which as noted above is attached to the display wall  15 . In other embodiments, such as that shown in  FIG. 4 , the bracket  144  is coupled between a shelf structure and a second rail member and provides additional support to the shelf structure. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the bracket  24  may be formed as an angled member with one portion disposed at an angle to the shelf structure  22 , which reinforces the shelf structure, and a second portion disposed parallel to the display wall  15  and extending between the rail member  30  and the display wall  15 . As will be described in further detail below with reference to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the bracket  24  may have a variety of other shapes, sizes and configurations for attachment of the shelf structure  22  to a rail member  30  and to reinforce the support member  20 . 
     The particular dimensions of the display system  10  may be modified to accommodate the space available within the retail establishment, and further can be adapted to accommodate truncated floor lamps of different shapes and sizes. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing of a perspective view of the lighting fixture display system of  FIG. 1  with the truncated floor-based lighting fixture  12  supported thereby. As can be seen in this view, the support member  20  includes shelf structure  22  which has side walls  22   a ,  22   b  adapted to receive or hook onto the rail member  30 . A front wall  22   c  of the shelf structure may have a label  23  attached for displaying identifying or other information relating to the floor-based lighting fixture  12 . Shelf structure  22  also includes a rear wall  22   d  that is disposed in this embodiment between the rail member  30  and the display wall  15  (not shown in  FIG. 2  for purposes of clarity and simplicity). The four walls of shelf structure  22  are joined by top wall  22   e , which is adapted to support a truncated floor-based lamp  12 . 
     The support member  30  also includes a bracket  24 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bracket  24  includes a lip portion  24   a , angled portion  24   b  and back portion  24   c  which extends along the display wall  15  (not shown) and terminates between the wall  15  and rail member  30 . The bracket  24  is attached to the underside of top wall  22   e  of the shelf structure  22  by lip portion  24   a , which is disposed substantially parallel to the top wall  22   e . Angled portion  24   b  of the bracket reinforces and supports the shelf structure  22 , and back portion  24   c  of the bracket of this embodiment extends upwardly along the display wall or other vertical surface to which the display system  10  can be attached. The back portion  24   c  of the bracket can be attached either to the rear surface of the rail member  30 , or to the display wall  15  or other vertical surface, or both, for additional stability. 
     Various configurations of the bracket  24  exist in accordance with the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 2 . For example, while one bracket  24  is shown attached at lip portion  24   a  to top wall  22   e  approximately along a center line thereof, two brackets may be provided, each attached by a lip portion to the top wall  22   e  adjacent opposite sides thereof. Such brackets may alternatively be attached to side walls  22   a ,  22   b , instead of top wall  22   e . Additional brackets can be provided as needed to support heavier lighting fixtures. In addition, as described in further detail below with reference to FIGS.  4  and  6 A- 6 B, bracket  24  may include an angled portion attached at one end to the shelf structure  22  and having a lip portion at an opposite end, for attachment to a second rail member  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the rail member  30  horizontally extends along the display wall  15  and provides an electrical connection to which cord  35  from the lighting fixture  12  may be connected. Although only one lighting fixture display system  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a plurality of display systems  10  may be attached along rail member  30 , and as shown in  FIG. 3 , more than one rail member may be provided, so that first and second display rows are created along first and second rail members with a plurality of display systems. The configuration of display systems shown in  FIG. 3  can be varied, and each display system can be moved or removed easily, to update the display system, or to repair or replace the fixture supported thereby, or to accommodate differently sized fixtures in the display. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , which is a front view of one exemplary configuration of a lighting fixture display system, showing a plurality of floor-based lighting fixtures  12  supported by support members  22  mounted on rail members  30  which are attached to a display wall  15 . In this configuration, a variety of truncated floor-based lighting fixtures can be displayed in multiple rows so that the decorative features of each fixture are easily viewable by a customer. This configuration also maximizes retailer space for displaying the decorative portion of such floor-based lighting fixtures. The display system shown in  FIG. 3  displays six lighting fixtures, but as can be appreciated, the display wall  15  can accommodate additional rail members with several support members attached to each one. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of a lighting fixture display system  100  showing a plurality of support members and rail members in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In particular, a plurality of support members  120  including shelf structures  122  and brackets  144  are shown attached to first and second horizontal rail members  170  and  172 , which are in turn mounted on or attached to a vertical display wall (not shown in  FIG. 4  for purposes of clarity and simplicity). The shelf structures  122  can be of different lengths and widths. In the illustrative embodiment, each shelf structure  122  is mounted on a first rail member  170  and each bracket  144  is attached, at one end, to the shelf structure  122  and at the opposite end, to a second rail member  172 . 
       FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C are related views of the shelf structure  122  of the support member  120  shown in  FIG. 4 . As can be seen in the perspective view of  FIG. 5A , the shelf structure  122  includes side walls  122   a  and  122   b  that are adapted to receive or hook onto a first rail member  170 . In particular, notches  124  are formed at one end of each of side walls  122   a ,  122   b . The notches  124  match the dimensions of first rail member  170 , so that the shelf structure  122  can be mounted on the rail member  170  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) by sliding the rail member into the space formed by the notches  124 . 
     The shelf structure  122  also includes a front wall  122   c  that can have a label (not shown) attached for displaying identifying or other information relating to the floor-based lighting fixture (not shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C ) supported by the shelf structure  122 . Alternatively, a bin or other container may be attached to the front wall  122   c  for holding brochures or specification sheets with further information relating to the lighting fixture displayed thereon or other items for sale. One or more holes  126  may be provided in front wall  122   c  for attachment of such label or bin to the front wall  122   c . In addition, the front wall  122   c  serves the aesthetic purpose of obstructing the view of objects that are disposed under the shelf structure, such as the bracket and electrical cord. Shelf structure  122  also includes a rear wall  122   d  that is disposed in this embodiment between the rail member  170  and display wall (not shown in  FIG. 5A  for purposes of clarity and simplicity). 
     The four walls of shelf structure  122  described above are joined by top wall  122   e , which is adapted to support a truncated floor-based lamp. With reference to  FIG. 5B , which is a top view of the top wall  122   e  of the shelf structure, an aperture  128  is formed in the top wall  122   e  to accommodate a truncated floor-based lamp and the electrical connection thereto. In particular, the aperture  128  is a narrow elongated opening in the top wall having a larger portion at one end in order to permit the plug of an electrical cord from the lighting fixture to pass through the top wall for connection to an outlet in the rail member, as will be described further below. As can be appreciated, the shape and size of the aperture  128  in the top wall  122   e  of the shelf structure may vary, but it must have a portion large enough to accommodate an electrical cord plug in order for the lighting fixture to be connected to an electrical outlet without interfering with the display system. 
       FIG. 5C  is a side view of side wall  122   b  shown in  FIG. 5A . The features of the side wall  122   b  shown in  FIG. 5C  are also present in side wall  122   a  (not shown in  FIG. 5C ). In particular, side wall  122   b  has a notch  124  at one end for receiving a rail member. Side wall  122   a  also has a notch  124  in a corresponding end, so that the shelf structure can be mounted on rail member  170  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). Side wall  122   b  also includes a series of holes  125 , to which one end of a bracket (not shown in  FIG. 5C ) may be attached. Similarly, side wall  122   a  may include such holes in order for one end of a second bracket to be attached thereto. By providing a series of holes  125  in each side wall  122   a ,  122   b , the angle or height of the shelf structure relative to a display wall and relative to other rail members can be easily adjusted. For example, if second rail member  172  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) is further from first rail member  170 , the bracket should be attached to one of the holes closer to notch  124 ; if the second rail member  172  is closer to first rail member  170 , the bracket should be attached to one of the holes closer to front wall  122   c.    
     The bracket member  144  used in the illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . The bracket  144  comprises an elongated body  148  with a foot portion  146  which can rest on top of the second rail member  172  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). The foot portion  146  may be formed with or attached to an angled bracket  147  that reinforces the foot portion  146  and is adapted to be positioned against the second rail member. As can be seen in  FIG. 6B , the angled bracket  147  may be formed with a hole  147   a  so that it can be fastened to the rail member  172 . On the opposite end of the elongated body  148  of the bracket  144  is a ring-like attachment member  149  having an opening and adapted to be attached to an inside surface of a side wall  122   a  or  122   b  of the shelf structure. More particularly, the opening shown in ring-like member  149  can be positioned adjacent one of the holes  125  in side wall  122   a  or  122   b  and joined thereto using a pin or by other means for attachment. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  show the top and front views of a horizontal rail member  170  of the display system shown in  FIG. 4 . As can be seen, the rail member  170  has an elongated body  172  with connections  174  to a source of electricity disposed along the rail body  172  at regular intervals. Alternatively, the rail member  170  may be provided with apertures  174  to allow coupling to externally supplied plugs (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). Although not shown in  FIG. 7A  or  7 B, the rail member may be attached to or mounted on a display wall. It is understood that the second rail member  172  shown in  FIG. 4  has the same features as the rail member  170  described herein, and that the second and any additional rail members may be similarly mounted on a display wall, forming first, second and subsequent display rows to which are attached a plurality of support members for supporting a variety of truncated floor-based lighting fixtures. 
     As can be appreciated from the above-described embodiments of the invention, the lighting display system offers flexibility in many aspects, including the spacing of support members on a rail, to allow either more or fewer lighting fixtures to be displayed along any one horizontal display row. Another aspect of the lighting display system that provides flexibility is in the spacing of horizontal rail members from each other, to accommodate varying heights of truncated stems of floor-based lighting displays and to permit more or fewer numbers of horizontal display rows. In addition, the lighting display system of the present invention may be used to display lighting fixtures other than floor-based lamps and torchieres, which may have different spacing requirements and can be accommodated by the horizontal and vertical flexibility of the present invention. In any configuration, the lighting display system described herein is capable of displaying a greater number of lamps than would otherwise be possible in a lighting fixture retailer&#39;s display showroom. 
     In accordance with the illustrative embodiments described herein, a lighting fixture can be displayed on the lighting display system of the present invention by providing a rail member and one or more support members, each of which includes a shelf structure that is adapted to receive the rail member at one end and a bracket coupled between each shelf structure and the rail member. As described above, the shelf structure includes an aperture, so that a lighting fixture may be installed on the shelf structure by inserting the electrical cord of the lighting fixture through the aperture. The plug of the electrical cord may then be inserted into an electrical connection in the rail member, or through an aperture in the rail member which allows coupling to an electrical connection, so that the lamp on display may be switched on and off. 
     The shelf structure receives the rail member in notches formed therein, so that the shelf structure may slide along the length of the rail member. The display of the lighting fixture may be adjusted horizontally along the horizontal display row by detaching the bracket from the rail member and sliding the shelf structure along the length of the rail member to the desired position, and then attaching the bracket to the rail member at the new position. The lighting fixture display may also be adjusted vertically, by detaching the bracket from the rail member, removing the shelf structure from the rail member, and attaching the support member (shelf structure and bracket) to a second or other rail member positioned above or below the original rail member. Moreover, the distance between horizontal display rows in the lighting display system may be adjusted by detaching the bracket from the rail member and attaching it to a second or other rail member. 
     As can be further appreciated, a lighting fixture may be easily repaired or replaced by removing it from the support member, which involves removing the plug of the fixture from the electrical power source, such as the connection provided by or accommodated by the rail member, pulling the plug and cord of the fixture back through the aperture of the shelf structure, and removing the fixture from the support member. 
     It is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as including the embodiments described herein, the alternatives mentioned above, and all equivalents thereto.

Technology Category: 2