DISPLAY DEVICE

Abstract

A display device has a forwardly-protruding portion extending forwardly (and optionally, upwardly or downwardly) from the device; a U-shaped support portion connected to each end of the forward-protruding portion; and vertical connection sections connecting each of the U-shaped support portions to a rearwardly directed support arm connected to the respective vertical connection section. The U-shaped support portion is shaped to abut a first horizontal surface of a shelf, the vertical connection section is shaped to abut a front vertical surface of the shelf, and the rearwardly directed support arm is shaped to abut a second horizontal surface of the shelf, such that the U-shaped support portion, the vertical connection section, and the rearwardly directed support arm abut their respective surfaces of the shelf so as to slidably mount the display device onto the shelf with the forwardly-protruding portion extending forwardly of the front surface of the shelf.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Priority is claimed to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/733,270, filed on Dec. 4, 2012, and the contents of said Application Ser. No. 61/733,270 are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

The present invention is a display device or system useful in hanging decorative items, such as Christmas ornaments, photographs or similar decorative items.

In particular, the display device of the present invention is designed to be slidably mounted on a generally horizontal shelf or surface or bookshelf. Once mounted a protruding portion of the display device extends forwardly of the front edge of the shelf so that ornamental objects can be easily hung for display, as described in greater detail hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a display device having a forwardly-protruding portion having an arcuate shape extending forwardly from the device; a U-shaped support portion connected to each end of the forwardly-protruding portion; and vertical connection sections connecting each one of the U-shaped support portions to a rearwardly directed support arm connected to the respective vertical connection section. Alternatively, instead of or in addition to an arcuate shape, the forwardly-protruding portion can having an upwardly extending shape, having a pair of upwardly-extending arms connected to a center horizontal segment, providing a horizontal center arm for holding objects. The U-shaped support portion is shaped and adapted to abut a first horizontal surface of a shelf, while the vertical connection section is shaped and adapted to abut a front vertical surface of the shelf, and the rearwardly directed support arm is shaped and adapted to abut a second horizontal surface of the shelf. In this manner, the device is configured such that the U-shaped support portion, the vertical connection section, and the rearwardly directed support arm each abut their respective surfaces of the shelf, so as to slidably mount the display device onto the shelf with the forwardly-protruding portion extending forwardly of the front surface of the shelf. The display device can preferably be formed of one contiguous piece of metal or wire. The metal or wire piece can preferably be formed in a shape having a generally circular cross section. The exterior surface of the piece of metal or wire can be treated in preferred fashions to provide a smooth, durable, attractive, decorative, and/or corrosion-free surface on the metal or wire, using surface treatments such as zinc coating, chrome plating, painting, or powder-coating. The display device preferably includes a cap, made of vinyl or rubber or another resin, mounted on the rear end of the rearwardly directed support arm, providing additional protection against slipping, and providing a barrier to keep the ends of the each of the arms from scratching or marring the surface of a shelf to which the device is mounted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the display device contemplated by the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment of the display device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the display device shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the display device of FIG. 1 installed on a bookshelf showing a plurality of Christmas ball ornaments hanging from the display device.

FIG. 6 is another view of the display device showing a plurality of spherical Christmas style ornaments hanging from the device, which is mounted onto a bookshelf; and

FIG. 7 is another view of the display device mounted on a bookshelf with a plurality of Christmas ornaments attached to the device along the arcuate forwardly extending portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The display device, generally designated 10 in FIG. 1, is a bent wire appliance preferably made from one contiguous piece of wire or metal although other materials could also be used. The device 10 has an arcuate or bowed forward protruding portion 14 and a pair of U-shaped supports 16 on either end thereof. In FIG. 1, the U-shaped supports each terminate in a short vertical section 18 and a generally elongated, rearwardly directed support arm 20, preferably above one arm of the U-shaped support 16. The portions 20 are preferably finished with a vinyl or rubber cap for protection and for stability as will be described in detail below.

The vertical portion 18 is preferably designed to be an inch or more in length so that it can permit the display device 10 to be simply slid onto a bookshelf to support the display device thereon. Preferably the U-shaped support members 16 are about eight inches in depth and the arcuate or bowed portion 14 gently arches to a point three or four inches forwardly of the bookshelf, when the display device 10 is appropriately mounted by sliding the device in a backwards direction toward the rear of the shelf. The display device 10 can be fabricated of varying gauge rigid wire requiring only six to eight bends in the wire to form the finished display device 10. In practice, the device may be zinc coated, chrome plated, painted, or powder-coated, and is generally circular in cross section. FIG. 3 shows another view of the display device shown in FIG. 1.

An alternative embodiment of the display device is shown in FIG. 2 in generally designated 30. In this embodiment the display device is again fabricated in varying gauge, rigid wire. FIG. 2 is a generally smaller version being approximately three to four inches in width. The forwardly extending bow portion of the previous embodiment is replaced with a relatively short horizontal portion 32 which extends upwardly by a pair of arms 34 connected to a similar pair of generally U-shaped mounting elements 36 similar to the elements 16 in the previous embodiment. Each of the U-shaped supports again terminate in a vertical arm 38 and a rearwardly directed support arm 40 which terminates in a vinyl or rubber cap 22. The rubber caps on both embodiments lend stability through friction along the shelf, helping to keep the device from sliding off of the shelf, or shifting to the left or right. In use, the display device of the embodiment in FIG. 1 can be seen supporting a plurality of items such as Christmas ornaments or the like as shown in FIG. 5, 6 or 7 where the display device is slidingly mounted on the shelf with the arcuate or bowed portion extending forwardly thereof to support the ornaments in a fanciful hanging design.

The display device of the section embodiment as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 is intended for slightly different purposes. Again, they can be easily mounted on a shelf or other flat open surface and the forwardly extending portion 32 extends forwardly of the support shelf or surface. In this smaller version as shown in FIG. 2, the additional rigidity permits the use of the display device to hang items of substantially significantly more weight such as a picture frame, clock or other decorative item. Additional rigidity can be gained preferably by forming the device by using a heavier gauge of wire having a larger cross sectional area.

In both embodiments as can be seen, portions of the bent wire appliance when inserted onto a shelf will have portions of the wire resting above and below the shelf. It can also be seen that the display device is reversible in that the rubber tip end portions for example, can be on the topside or the bottomside of the shelf as desired. A unique benefit provided by the claimed design is found in the reversible nature of the display device to allow for maximum flexibility positioning displayed items on the device, in accord with their relative size or weight, or to achieve a particular design effect by maximum flexibility in positioning the items.

Another unique benefit is found the compact vertical and horizontal profile of the device when mounted. When mounted, the device allows the shelf to still be used for holding items on the shelf, such as books. This is because the U-shaped support portions and the arms remain closely abutted to the horizontal surfaces of the shelf. Thus, books and other items can still be placed on the top of the shelf, including over top of the U-shaped support portion or the arms, because the device takes up very little space above the shelf; the device extends into the space above the shelf only by the width of the diameter of the wire from which the device is formed. Also, the compact profile means the device does not interfere with placement of items on a shelf below the shelf upon which the device is mounted; again, the device extends into the space below the shelf only by the width of the diameter of the wire.

In most applications of the first embodiment where a plurality of hanging ornaments are attached to the forwardly bowing arcuate section, it is generally mounted with the rubber tipped portions on the top of the shelf.

The foregoing detailed description of the present invention is given for clearness of understanding only, as many modifications would be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

a forwardly-protruding portion having an arcuate shape extending forwardly from the device;

a U-shaped support portion connected to each end of the forwardly-protruding portion; and

vertical connection sections connecting each one of the U-shaped support portions to a rearwardly directed support arm connected to the respective vertical connection section, wherein

the U-shaped support portion is shaped and adapted to abut a first horizontal surface of a shelf,

the vertical connection section is shaped and adapted to abut a front vertical surface of the shelf, and

the rearwardly directed support arm is shaped and adapted to abut a second horizontal surface of the shelf,

such that the U-shaped support portion, the vertical connection section, and the rearwardly directed support arm abut their respective surfaces of the shelf so as to slidably mount the display device onto the shelf with the forwardly-protruding portion extending forwardly of the front surface of the shelf.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is formed of one contiguous piece of metal or wire.

3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the piece of metal or wire is formed in a shape having a generally circular cross section.

4. The display device according to claim 2, wherein an exterior surface of the piece of metal or wire is zinc coated.

5. The display device according to claim 2, wherein an exterior surface of the piece of metal or wire is chrome plated.

6. The display device according to claim 2, wherein an exterior surface of the piece of metal or wire is painted or powder-coated.

7. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a vinyl or rubber cap mounted on a rear end of the rearwardly directed support arm.

8. The display device according to claim 2, further comprising a vinyl or rubber cap mounted on a rear end of the rearwardly directed support arm.

9. The display device according to claim 6, wherein the piece of metal or wire is formed in a shape having a generally circular cross section, and the device further comprises a vinyl or rubber cap mounted on a rear end of the rearwardly directed support arm.

10. A display device, comprising:

a forwardly-protruding portion having a pair of upwardly-extending arms connected to a center horizontal segment;

a U-shaped support portion connected to each end of the forwardly-protruding portion; and

vertical connection sections connecting each one of the U-shaped support portions to a rearwardly directed support arm connected to the respective vertical connection section, wherein

the U-shaped support portion is shaped and adapted to abut a first horizontal surface of a shelf,

the vertical connection section is shaped and adapted to abut a front vertical surface of the shelf, and

the rearwardly directed support arm is shaped and adapted to abut a second horizontal surface of the shelf,

such that the U-shaped support portion, the vertical connection section, and the rearwardly directed support arm abut the respective surfaces of the shelf so as to slidably mount the display device onto the shelf with the forwardly-protruding portion extending forwardly of the front surface of the shelf.

11. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the display device is formed of one contiguous piece of metal or wire.

12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein the piece of metal or wire is formed in a shape having a generally circular cross section.

13. The display device according to claim 11, wherein an exterior surface of the piece of metal or wire is zinc coated.

14. The display device according to claim 11, wherein an exterior surface of the piece of metal or wire is chrome plated.

15. The display device according to claim 11, wherein an exterior surface of the piece of metal or wire is painted or powder-coated.

16. The display device according to claim 10, further comprising a vinyl or rubber cap mounted on a rear end of the rearwardly directed support arm.

17. The display device according to claim 11, further comprising a vinyl or rubber cap mounted on a rear end of the rearwardly directed support arm.

18. The display device according to claim 15, wherein the piece of metal or wire is formed in a shape having a generally circular cross section, and the device further comprises a vinyl or rubber cap mounted on a rear end of the rearwardly directed support arm.