STORAGE APPARATUS

Abstract

A storage apparatus for use on a wall and with jewelry is disclosed. The apparatus includes a receiver and a cover. The receiver is adapted to receive the jewelry and is attached to the wall in use such that the receiver presents the jewelry received away from the wall. The cover has a presentation face and is attached to the receiver for sliding movement between a storage position where the receiver is disposed behind the presentation face and an extended position beside the receiver to permit access to jewelry received by the receiver. The presentation face can be a mirror; or a picture-receiving face, in which case, the apparatus also functions as a picture frame; or a transparent panel, in which case the apparatus also functions as a presentation fixture.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Ser. No. 11/236,980 filed Sep. 28, 2005 which claims the benefit of Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 2,483,960, filed Oct. 4, 2004, titled JEWELLERY DISPLAY SYSTEM, the contents of which are incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus or device used for storage, and more particularly, to an apparatus used for storing jewelry.

BACKGROUND

There are many different types of jewelry storage devices that are readily available on the market. Such storage devices range from ordinary jewelry boxes designed to be placed in drawers and the like to rather elaborate arrangements which tend to be substantially more expensive.

It is also known in the prior art to provide lockable devices which prevent theft. These devices are often hidden in drawers, beneath a bed, or other similar locations, so that a potential thief will be unable to locate same. However, usually a burglar will ransack a residence until the jewelry is found. Thus, it is often futile to use such devices unless a very secure type of apparatus such as a wall safe is utilized.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel device for storing jewelry.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a frame member, a mirror mounted in said frame member, where the jewelry storage apparatus is mounted to the frame rearwardly of the mirror. The jewelry storage apparatus is mounted to a wall in use. The mirror is movable from a position where the jewelry storage device is rearwardly disposed therefrom to a position beside the jewelry storage apparatus where the user can select the jewelry and try on the jewelry with the mirror being proximate thereto.

According to another aspect, a storage apparatus forms part of the invention. The storage apparatus is for use on a wall and with jewelry, and comprises a receiver and a cover. The receiver is adapted to receive said jewelry and is mounted to said wall in use such that said receiver presents jewelry received thereby away from said wall. The cover has a presentation face and is mounted to said receiver for sliding movement in use between a storage position whereat the receiver is disposed behind the presentation face and an extended position beside the receiver to permit access to jewelry received by said receiver.

According to another aspect, the presentation face may be transparent, such that, in use, with the cover in the storage position, jewelry received by said receiver can be viewed through the presentation face.

According to another aspect, the cover may be a picture frame, with the presentation face being a picture-receiving face.

According to another aspect, the cover may be a mirror, with the presentation face being a mirrored surface.

According to another aspect, the receiver may be further adapted to receive documents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a storage apparatus or device for storing jewelry, with a cover shown in an extended position;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the storage apparatus, with the cover shown in a storage position;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the storage apparatus of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 and 5 a storage apparatus or device generally designated by reference numeral 10.

The storage apparatus 10 includes a first portion comprising a frame or cover 12 having a top frame member 14, a bottom frame member 16, and a pair of side frame members 18, 20. Mounted interiorly of frame members 14,16, 18, and 20 is a mirror or presentation face generally designated by reference numeral 22. The cover is shown in an extended position with respect to the storage apparatus 10 to permit access to the jewelry.

The storage apparatus 10 includes a sub frame assembly or receiver 24. The receiver 24 is slidably mounted with respect to the cover 12 and to this end, a first ball bearing drawer slide 26 is located proximate to the bottom of the receiver 24 and a second ball bearing drawer slide 28 is proximate to the top of the receiver 24. The receiver 24 includes a central portion 30, which is designed to receive jewelry as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The central portion preferably is formed of a soft material, one non-limiting example being cork covered with velvet. A plurality of hooks 32 are mounted on the central portion 28 to receive jewelry. A pocket 34 is included on the central portion 30, to receive documents such as passports. Thumb tacks or any such suitable fastener as is known in the industry can alternately or additionally be used to secure jewelry or documents.

In use, normally the cover 12 is in a storage position, overlying the receiver 24, as illustrated in FIG. 2, with the receiver 24 attached or mounted to a wall. The receiver 24 can be attached to the wall by screws or any such suitable fastener as is known in the industry. When the user wishes to access jewelry, the cover 12 is slid out to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, and the user can then try on various pieces of jewelry while looking in the mirror 22. In this example, the members 14,16,18, and 20 about the minor and the minor 22 itself may be of any conventional style and will normally be chosen for the aesthetics thereof. There are many mirrors and frames known in the art and any suitable combination may be utilized in the practice of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention. In this example, the mirror 22 is replaced by a picture holder 36. In this embodiment, the storage apparatus 10 also functions as a picture frame.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the minor 22 is replaced by a transparent panel 38. In this embodiment, the storage apparatus 10 serves as a presentation fixture, for use in retail environments or the like.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

Claims

1. A storage apparatus for use on a wall having a wall surface and with jewelry, the storage apparatus comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive the jewelry and removably attachable to the wall where the receiver presents the jewelry received away from said wall, the receiver having a top member, a bottom member and opposed side members, a back member and a the receiver defining an outer receiver boundary and a central portion configured to receive jewelry;

a cover having a presentation face and an opposed face, the opposed face being attachable to the receiver for sliding movement relative to the receiver between a storage position where the receiver is disposed behind the presentation face and laterally extended position beside the receiver to permit access to jewelry received by the receiver wherein the cover is disposed at a location exposing greater than half the receiver when the cover is in the extended position, the cover having a presentation face and a frame member extending outward from the presentation face, wherein the cover slides lateral to the receiver and wherein the receiver has a front region defined within the outer receiver boundary;

a plurality of hook members connected to the central portion of the receiver, the hook members configured to maintain articles of jewelry in suspended relationship thereon; and

means for mounting the storage apparatus to the wall surface such that the back panel is in overlying relationship with the wall surface;

wherein the receiver includes first and second ball bearing drawer slide assemblies attached proximate to the respective top and bottom portions of the receiver interior to the outer receiver boundary, the ball bearing drawer slides slidably connected to the cover inward of the boundaries defined by the cover and by the receiver.

2. The storage apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the presentation face is transparent, and the receiver is adapted such that, in use, with the cover in the storage position, the jewelry received by the receiver can be viewed through the presentation face.

3. The storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is adapted to further include a central portion formed of a soft material configured to receive at least one of jewelry fasteners and thumbtacks.

4. The storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover is a picture frame and the presentation face is a picture-receiving face.

5. The storage apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive documents.

6. The storage apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cover is a mirror and the presentation face is a mirrored surface.

7. (canceled)

8. The storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive documents.

9. A storage apparatus for use on a wall and with jewelry, the storage apparatus comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive the jewelry and be removably attachable to the wall where the receiver presents the jewelry received away from said wall, the receiver having a back panel, a top panel, a bottom panel and opposed planar side panels, the top panel, bottom panel and opposed planar side panels defining an outer boundary and forming a single central inner cavity, the central inner region having a front facing surface and configured to position jewelry in a display orientation; and

a mirrored cover having a mirrored presentation face and an opposed face, the opposed face oriented toward the receiver and attached to the receiver for sliding lateral movement between a storage position where the receiver is disposed behind the presentation face and an extended position beside the receiver to permit access to jewelry received by the receiver when the apparatus is in the use position, wherein the extended position provides access to the entire central cavity through the front opening and displays jewelry contained therein in an upright display orientation; and

wherein the receiver includes drawer slides mounted proximate to and inward of top portions and bottom portions of the receiver, the drawer slides configured to slidably engage the opposed surface of the mirrored cover.

10. The storage apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the receiver is adapted to receive documents.

11. A storage apparatus for use on a wall and with jewelry, the storage apparatus comprising:

a receiver having a back panel and a top panel, a bottom panel and a pair of opposed planar panels attached to and extending perpendicularly from the back panel, the receiver adapted to receive and display the jewelry and attachable to the wall where the receiver presents the jewelry received away from said wall; and

a cover having a transparent presentation face and being attachable to the receiver for sliding movement in use between a storage position where the receiver is disposed behind the presentation face and an extended position beside the receiver to permit access to jewelry received by the receiver and wherein the receiver is adapted such that with the cover in the storage position, the jewelry received by the receiver can be viewed through the presentation face; and

wherein the receiver includes drawer slides mounted proximate to a top portion and a bottom portion of the receiver, the drawer slides configured to slidably engage the cover on a surface inward of an outer boundary defined by the cover.

12. The storage apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the receiver is adapted to receive documents.

13. A method for storing and retrieving jewelry comprising the steps of:

removably mounting the device of claim 1 on a wall surface such that the back member is in parallel overlying relationship to the wall surface;

orienting the cover in the laterally extended position to expose greater than half of the receiver after the device is mounted on the wall surface;

positioning at least one article of jewelry in suspended relationship on one of the hook members; and

sliding the cover into the storage position to produce a decorative wall-mounted device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the cover comprises a mirror and the method further comprises the steps of:

sliding the cover laterally out of the storage position;

removing at least one article of jewelry contained in the receiver; and

positioning the article of jewelry on a wearer while viewing the article in the mirror on the cover.