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Patent Abstract
The present invention provides a bracket for displaying jewelry
having a plurality of links, comprising an elongated base member
extending along a first longitudinal axis in a first plane and having
first and second elongated edges, and a link retention member connected
to the base member extending along a second longitudinal axis parallel
to the first longitudinal axis and in a second plane that is non-parallel
to the first plane, wherein the link retention member includes a
plurality of spaced apart openings formed therethrough, each of
the openings being adapted to securely receive a link.
Patent Claims
1. A bracket for displaying jewelry having a plurality of links,
comprising: a. an elongated base member extending along a first
longitudinal axis in a first plane and having first and second elongated
edges; and b. a link retention member connected to said base member
extending along a second longitudinal axis parallel to said first
longitudinal axis and in a second plane that is non-parallel to
said first plane, said link retention member including a plurality
of spaced apart openings formed therethrough, each of said openings
being adapted to securely receive a link.
2. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein said link retention
member extends upwardly from said first longitudinal edge of said
base member.
3. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality
of openings are oval in shape.
4. A point of sale display for jewelry formed of interconnected
links, comprising: a. a display plate having a planar upwardly facing
surface; and b. a bracket adapted for attachment to said display
plate, comprising: i. an elongated base member extending along a
first longitudinal axis in a first plane and having first and second
elongated edges; and ii. a link retention member connected to said
base member extending along a second longitudinal axis parallel
to said first longitudinal axis and in a second plane that is non-parallel
to said first plane, said link retention member including a plurality
of spaced apart openings formed therethrough, each of said openings
being adapted to securely receive a link.
5. The point of sale display according to claim 4, wherein said
link retention member extends upwardly from said first longitudinal
edge of said base member.
6. The point of sale display according to claim 4, wherein each
of said plurality of openings are oval in shape.
7. A point of sale display for jewelry formed of interconnected
links, comprising: a. first and second plates positioned in spaced
parallel relation to one another; and b. a plurality of elongated
brackets interconnected to said first and second plates and extending
therebetween, each of said brackets including an outer edge and
a plurality of linearly spaced openings formed therethrough and
positioned adjacent to and extending along said outer edge.
8. The point of sale display of claim 7, wherein said first and
second plates are round.
9. The point of sale display of claim 7, further comprising a plurality
of fins securely interconnected to said first and second plates
and extending perpendicularly therebetween.
10. The point of sale display of claim 9, wherein each of said
plurality of brackets is connected to a respective one of said plurality
of fins.
11. The point of sale display of claim 7, wherein first and second
plates are rotatable about a common axis.
12. The point of sale display of claim 11, wherein said first plate
includes a roller mounted to the bottom surface thereof to effect
the rotation.
13. The point of sale display of claim 11, wherein an electric
motor is operably interconnected to said first late to effect rotation
thereof.
14. The point of sale display of clam 7, wherein each one of said
plurality of openings formed through each one of said plurality
of brackets is laterally aligned with a respective one of said plurality
of openings formed through another of said plurality of brackets.
15. The point of sale display of clam 14, wherein the jewelry is
adapted to be securely connected to said plurality of brackets and
extend in a plane that is essentially parallel to said first and
second plates.
Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to jewelry display
apparatus, and more particularly to brackets and displays for strand
jewelry composed of multiple links.
[0002] Bracelets and necklaces may be composed of a plurality of
links that are interconnected in a strand by elastic media, such
as springs or elastic. One popular form of such jewelry is sold
under the trademark NOMINATION, and includes a plurality of links
that may include ornamental design attributes (commonly referred
to as "charms" or "Italian charms"). Each link
in a NOMINATION bracelet/necklace comprises two members elastically
connected to one another and biased to a closed position: a clasp
portion and a hook portion. The clasp portion includes a clasp member
defined by a sidewall and open on its top and bottom ends, and integral
with what forms the bottom surface of the link. The hook member
includes a slit formed between the two opposing edges on the bottom
surface of a C-shaped blank, the top surface of which forms the
upper surface of the link. A spring that interconnects the two members
together biases the two members into overlapping relation to one
another with the top of the hook member forming the top of the link
and the bottom of the clasp member forming the bottom of the link.
To interconnect two links, the open sidewall of the clasp member
to one link is passed through the slit formed in the hook member
of the adjacent link.
[0003] Strand jewelry is often displayed in the retail environment
in display cases and on display boards on which several strands
of jewelry can lie so that a potential purchaser can observe several
strands at once and in side by side relation for comparison purposes.
For security reasons, the jewelry is sometimes fastened to the display
board. For aesthetic reasons, it is desirable for the board to retain
the strands of jewelry in parallel relation to one another to prohibit
them from interfering with one another and from slipping off of
the display board.
[0004] It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the
present invention to provide a bracket for securely retaining link
jewelry for display purposes.
[0005] It is another object of the present invention to provide
a display system with a board and a plurality of brackets for displaying
multiple lengths and style of link jewelry.
[0006] It is an additional object and advantage of the present
invention to provide a carousel ort tower style point of sale display
for displaying multiple lengths and styles of link jewelry.
[0007] It is a further object and advantage of the present invention
to provide a point of sale display for link jewelry that securely
retains the jewelry, but permits easy removal and replacement of
the jewelry on the display.
[0008] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0009] In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages,
one aspect of the present invention provides a bracket for displaying
jewelry having a plurality of links, comprising an elongated base
member extending along a first longitudinal axis in a first plane
and having first and second elongated edges, and a link retention
member connected to the base member extending along a second longitudinal
axis parallel to the first longitudinal axis and in a second plane
that is non-parallel to the first plane, wherein the link retention
member includes a plurality of spaced apart, linearly aligned openings
formed therethrough, each of the openings being adapted to securely
receive a link.
[0010] Another aspect of the invention provides a system for displaying
jewelry formed of interconnected links, comprising a base plate
having a planar upwardly facing surface, and a bracket for displaying
jewelry having a plurality of links, comprising an elongated base
member extending along a first longitudinal axis in a first plane
and having first and second elongated edges, and a link retention
member connected to the base member extending along a second longitudinal
axis parallel to the first longitudinal axis and in a second plane
that is non-parallel to the first plane, wherein the link retention
member includes a plurality of spaced apart, linearly aligned openings
formed therethrough, each of the openings being adapted to securely
receive a link.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the openings
formed through the bracket are oval in shape to conform with the
shape of the links that are being connected thereto. In addition,
it is preferred that the link retention member be integral with
and stand upwardly from one longitudinal edge of the base member.
In a preferred embodiment, the link retention member extends in
a plane that is perpendicular to the plane in which the base member
extends.
[0012] In another aspect of the invention, a carousel style point
of sale display for jewelry formed of interconnected links, comprising
first and second plates positioned in spaced parallel relation to
one another, and a plurality of elongated brackets interconnected
to and extending between the first and second plates, wherein each
of the brackets includes an outer edge and a plurality of linearly
spaced openings formed therethrough and positioned adjacent to and
extending along the outer edge. Preferably the first and second
plates are round and aligned in concentric relation to one another,
thereby sharing a common longitudinal axis about which the display
may rotate either manually or automatically via an electric motor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The present invention will be more fully understood and
appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in accordance
with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0014] FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective and side elevation views,
respectively, of a bracket according to the present invention;
[0015] FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are a top plan view of a point of sale
display plate, a perspective view of a point of sale display with
brackets mounted thereto and jewelry displayed thereon, and a bottom
plan view of a point of sale display, respectively, according to
the present invention;
[0016] FIGS. 3A and 3B are a perspective view and bottom plan view
of a second embodiment of a point of display;
[0017] FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D are top plan view, a partial, expanded
top plan view, a bottom plan view, and a side elevation view, respectively,
of a linked piece of jewelry adapted for display with the bracket
and point of display plate of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of a third embodiment of
a point of sale display in accordance with the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view thereof; and
[0020] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line
7-7 of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B
a jewelry display bracket, designated generally by reference numeral
10, comprising a base member 12 and a link retention member 14 integral
with and extending from a longitudinal edge of and in a perpendicular
plane relative to base member 12.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment of another aspect of the invention,
as illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, a point of sale display
100 is created with two brackets 10 mounted in spaced, parallel
relation to one another on a plate 102, with several pieces of strand
jewelry 200 securely attached to and extending between the two brackets
10 in spaced, parallel relation to one another. Plate 102 is provided
with at least two parallel, spaced slots 104, 106 formed therethrough.
Brackets 10 are connected to plate 102 by first passing link retention
member 14 through a respective slot 104, 106, such that link retention
member 14 extends upwardly from the upper surface of plate 102.
To complete the fastening, fasteners 108 are then passed through
openings 18 formed through base member 14 and slots 104, 106 and
secured with base member 12 overlying the bottom surface of plate
102. Preferably fasteners 108 do not extend entirely through plate
102, but rather remain recessed therein to avoid being seen or interfering
with jewelry 200. Such a display 100 provides a secure, aesthetically
pleasing presentation to consumers.
[0023] In a slightly altered embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B,
each slot 104, 106 is spilt into two slots 104 A and B, 106 A and
B, and base member 14 comprises two sections 14 A and B, from attach
link retaining member 14 and permit two section thereof to extend
through slots 104 A and B, 106 A and B. Link retaining member 14
also includes a central section 14A that spans between openings
14A and B, and 106 A and B, thereby permitting link retaining member
14 to be continuous despite the splitting of the slots. This splitting
provides structural rigidity to the display 100.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 4A-4D, jewelry 200 comprises strands
of individual links 202, and may form a bracelet, a necklace, or
any other type of stranded jewelry. Each individual link 202 comprises
two members: a clasp member 204 and a hook member 206. The clasp
member 204 includes a sidewall 208 that is open on its top and bottom
ends and integral with what forms the bottom surface 210 of the
link 202. The hook member 206 includes a slit 212 formed between
the two opposing edges of a C-shaped blank 214 that forms the upper
surface of the link. To interconnect the two members 204, 206 of
a link 202, and then connect subsequent links 202 to the strand,
the open sidewall 208 of clasp member 204 is passed through slit
212 formed in hook member 206, and the spring that interconnects
the two members 204, 206 together and biases them into overlapping
relation to one another with the top of hook member 204 forming
the top of link 202 and the bottom of clasp 206 member forming the
bottom of link 202. To interconnect additional links, the outer
open sidewall 208 clasp member 204 is passed through slit 212 of
hook member 206 of an adjacent link 202.
[0025] In its preferred form, link retention member 12 extends
along a longitudinal axis A-A that is parallel to the longitudinal
axis B-B along which base member 14 extends, and includes a plurality
of openings 24 formed therethrough. Openings 24 are shaped to securely
receive with minimal play hook member 204. In the preferred embodiment,
openings 24 are elongated and of a length L1 that is slightly larger
than the length L2 of the edges of hook member 204 that define slit
212, such that the upper edge of link retention member 12 may pass
through slit 212 and hook member 204 may securely engage opening
24. When interconnected in this manner, jewelry 200 extends along
a longitudinal axis C-C that is perpendicular to axis A-A.
[0026] In order to permit jewelry 200 to lie essentially flat when
displayed on a table top or on plate 102, openings 24 are formed
at, or close to the intersection of link retention member 12 and
the upwardly facing surface of plate 16.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 5-7, an alternate embodiment of a point
of sale display 300 is illustrated. Point of sale display 300 comprises
upper and lower plates 302, 304, that each extend in spaced, horizontal
planes, with several (four in the preferred embodiment) fins 306
securely mounted to and extending fully between plates 302, 304,
in respective vertical planes. A planar bracket 308 is mounted in
overlying relation to each fin 306 via a conventional fastener,
such as bolt 310. Brackets 308 each include a plurality of openings
312 formed therethrough and linearly extending in spaced relation
to one another adjacent the outer edge of bracket 308 and beyond
the outer edge of fins 306. In essence, bracket 308 is identical
to link retention member 12 except with the inclusion of mounting
holes formed therethrough to permit passage of bolt 310 for purposes
of fastening to fins 306. Plates 302 and 304 are preferably though
not necessarily round and positioned in concentric relation to one
another, sharing a common longitudinal axis X-X.
[0028] In use, hook members 206 engage and fasten to brackets 308
by passing through openings 312 formed therethrough. Preferably,
although not necessarily, each strand of jewelry 200 would be securely
fastened to laterally aligned openings 312 formed through brackets
308 such that they lie in a horizontal plane that is essentially
parallel to plates 302, 304, with display 300 being adapted to hold
a plurality of strands of jewelry 200 in respective, spaced, parallel,
horizontal planes.
[0029] Display 300 may be provided with rollers 316 operably mounted
to the underside of bottom plate 302 to permit selective, manual
rotation thereof about its longitudinal axis. Alternatively, an
electric motor 318 may be operably connected to display 300 to effect
automatic rotation thereof about its longitudinal axis. |