Device for displaying at least one object

Abstract

A device for displaying at least one object, includes a support, at least one through passage defined by the support, and at least one housing attached to the support and received at least partially within the passage. The housing includes a first portion extending from a first side of the support and a second portion having an opening accessible from a second side of the support, opposite to the first side. The opening is configured to receive an object for display. The housing includes a locking element configured to engage the object such that one portion of the object becomes reversibly locked in the housing and another portion of the object emerges from the second side of the support.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device suitable for displaying at least one object, and in particular, for displaying samples of cosmetic products, such as collections of lipsticks, foundations or blushers, for testing by consumers.

[0002] Many types of display stands for displaying products for sale are already known. In particular, perfume departments and pharmacies employ display stands to present the various ranges of products of a particular cosmetic, each range showing for example a multitude of different colors and shades.

[0003] When arranged in these display stands, the objects for display appear on view to the consumer, appropriately laid out and, optionally, available for testing. Such display stands give the product in question an image of quality and facilitate the consumer's search for a product of the right shade.

[0004] For aesthetic reasons, traditional display stands are designed for products of one particular type. The detail in the structure of the display stand is governed by the geometry of the products. In general terms, of the various display stands designed for presenting lipstick and other make-up products, there are two main known types of display stand.

[0005] A first type of display stand, usually found at points of sale, has an essentially horizontal surface, for instance, a flat or convex plate. This horizontal surface typically includes a plurality of concavities formed in the surface, each concavity having a closed end. Each concavity is designed to receive, as an object for display, an individual product package or case containing a product, for instance, a lipstick product in a lipstick case. The concavities usually have a cross section corresponding more or less to the cross section of the object for display, for instance, the base of the lipstick case. Furthermore, the depth of the concavities is typically fairly shallow, on the order of about one centimeter.

[0006] This type of display stand has several major drawbacks. First, the objects for display, for instance, the bases of the lipstick cases, are not locked into the concavities, with the result that when the display stand is jolted even slightly, the objects for display frequently fall out. The displayed lipstick products could then come loose from their cases in which they are mounted or otherwise be damaged, spoiling them and rendering them unusable for further display or make-up tests.

[0007] In addition, with such a display stand the objects for display can only be installed at the point of sale. If the objects for display were installed elsewhere, they could fall out during transport. What is more, losses or thefts of such displayed objects are common.

[0008] In another known type of display stand, a horizontal or vertical panel is provided, which contains a multitude of open orifices, typically circular, in which a plurality of objects containing products for sampling are arranged. In this type of display stand, the protective caps of the product cases have been removed prior to insertion of the objects for display into the open orifices.

[0009] This type of display stand also has disadvantages. As with the first type of display stand discussed above, there is no locking between any of the objects for display and the display stand. Again, when the stand is jolted, even slightly, the displayed objects may fall out and be spoiled. Moreover, given this type of mounting, the objects containing products for sampling can only be displayed on horizontal stands, or arranged vertically at most. The display options are therefore limited.

[0010] In addition, as with the previous type of display stand, the objects for display can only be installed at the point of sale. Moreover, there are no individual compartments or concavities on the opposite side of the panel from the display side for each of the displayed objects. Thus, there is no need to retract the sampled product back into its case prior to placing the case back in the stand. For instance, lipstick cases may be replaced without winding down the stick of lipstick. This may result in the unsightly traces of product frequently seen smeared all around the orifices in which the lipstick cases are inserted.

[0011] Lastly, such a display stand is unusable for presenting lipsticks, or other products, containing a high level of volatile solvents because, after only a short time on display, such products may dry out. For instance, the stick of lipstick may harden and its surface may develop unattractive cracks.

[0012] Patent application FR 2 648 333 discloses a display stand for holding lipstick cases containing lipstick for sampling. This display stand consists of a plate forming an essentially horizontal display surface. A plurality of concavities, each having a closed bottom, is formed in the plate. The concavities are each designed to take the base of one lipstick case. The display surface and the concavities are both formed from the same plate. In this type of display stand, since the display surface and the concavities are both formed from the same plate, the caps of the lipstick cases cannot be used to form the concavities.

[0013] An optional object of the present invention is to solve all or some of the problems discussed with reference to certain conventional display stands.

[0014] Accordingly, one of the optional objects of the invention is to provide a display device that significantly reduces the risk of the objects to be presented falling out and being damaged.

[0015] It is another optional object of the invention to provide a display device suitable, in particular, for displaying collections of cosmetic products, and for storing the product satisfactorily throughout the display life of the product.

[0016] Yet another optional object of the invention is to provide a display device that offers display options that cannot be obtained with conventional display stands.

[0017] It is even another optional object of the invention to provide a display device in which the objects for display can be installed in the display device before it is transported and set up at the point of sale.

[0018] It should be understood that the invention could still be practiced without performing one or more of the optional objects and/or advantages described above. Still other optional objects will become apparent from the detailed description that follows.

[0019] As broadly described herein, the present invention optionally relates to a device for displaying at least one object. The device includes a support, at least one through passage defined by the support, and at least one housing attached to the support and received at least partially within the passage. The housing includes a first portion extending from a first side of the support and a second portion having an opening accessible from a second side of the support, opposite to the first side. The opening is configured to receive an object for display. The housing includes a locking element configured to engage the object such that one portion of the object becomes reversibly locked in the housing and another portion of the object emerges from the second side of the support.

[0020] Also as broadly described herein, the present invention optionally relates to a display device including a support, at least one through passage defined by the support, at least one housing, and at least one object. The housing is attached to the support and is received at least partially within the passage. The object is received at least partially within the housing. The housing has a locking element and the object has a locking element. The locking element of the housing and the locking element of the object are configured to engage and lock the object to the housing.

[0021] Within the meaning of the present invention, “reversibly locking” or “removably locking” the object means that the object may be locked and unlocked from the support. Locking means that the object does not become detached from the housing under its own weight when the support is turned over or tilted beyond the vertical.

[0022] The use of housings dedicated individually to each object may ensure that a product in the object is stored satisfactorily, which is particular relevant when the object contains a product containing volatile solvents.

[0023] The locking system used between each housing and the object that it contains may increase the number of display options for the objects being presented. The risk of the objects falling out and being damaged may be reduced significantly.

[0024] Furthermore, when the housings are formed by separate added elements attached to the support (i.e., when the housings and the support are not integrally formed from a single piece of material), the added elements can optionally be the same caps as those fitted to the object intended for sale. The display device can therefore be manufactured at a very advantageous cost.

[0025] The support may be flat, arched, or any other stepped or curved shape.

[0026] The added element forming the housing may be optionally mounted nonremovably in the passage, for example, by adhesive bonding or interference fit with the inside of the passage.

[0027] Optionally, the displayed object may include a compartment containing a product, for example in the form of a solid stick, for dispensing through an opening in the compartment. The housing may be configured in the form of a cap capable of removably covering the opening.

[0028] In accordance with another optional aspect of the invention, the product may be situated on a manually movable mechanism in the compartment. The mechanism is movable between a first position in which the product is substantially contained within the compartment and a second position in which the product emerges out of the compartment through the opening. According to this optional aspect, the housing is dimensioned so that it accepts the displayed object only when the mechanism is in the first position.

[0029] By using the cap of the product package or case to form the housing of the display device, a good fit between the displayed object and the housing may be ensured. Such a fit might not be achieved if the housing is produced only for general display purposes and without consideration of the object to be displayed. In particular, by using the caps of the product cases to form the housings, the product may be automatically stored properly in the display device.

[0030] Furthermore, when the cap dedicated to the product case is nonremovably attached to the support of the display device, the risk of theft may be reduced, because the product might be practically unusable without the cap.

[0031] In an optional embodiment, a locking element of the housing and the corresponding locking element of the object are provided. These locking elements may be configured so as to engage with each other by snap engagement in order to removably lock the object in the housing.

[0032] The locking element of the housing optionally may comprise a groove (or bead) formed, for instance, in the vicinity of the opening of the housing, and which is designed to engage with a corresponding bead (or groove) provided on a base of the object. The base of the object may include the axially movable base and its drive mechanism.

[0033] In another optional embodiment of the invention, the support comprises a plurality of passages associated with a plurality of housings so that a plurality of objects can be displayed.

[0034] Optionally again, each housing may be at least partially formed of a transparent material. Likewise, the support optionally may be at least partially formed of a transparent material. This would allow the consumer to see the color of the product through the support or through the housing.

[0035] The locking element of the housing and the corresponding locking element of the object optionally may be designed in such a way that the product is contained in a substantially airtight manner inside the housing.

[0036] It may be desirable to provide the support with a mirror so that the consumer can easily do a dab test.

[0037] The device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention is particularly suitable for displaying cosmetic objects, especially make-up products, such as collections of lipsticks.

[0038] Optionally, in accordance with the invention, a method is provided. The method includes providing a display device as described herein and inserting an object for display into the housing of the display device at a site remote from a point of sale. The method also includes transporting the display device from the remote site to the point of sale and using the device to display the object to consumers for purposes of testing the product. The object for display contains a product for sampling.

[0039] Besides the structural arrangement and procedural aspects described above, there could include a number of other arrangements, such as those explained hereinafter. It is to be understood that both the foregoing description and the following description are exemplary.

[0040] The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate an optional embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

[0041] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display device according to an optional embodiment of the invention; and

[0042] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in partial longitudinal section through the display device of FIG. 1.

[0043] Reference will now be made in detail to optional embodiments of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0044] Referring to these figures, a display device in accordance with one optional embodiment of the invention is generally denoted by reference number 1.

[0045] The display device 1, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is essentially made of plastic. The display device 1 generally includes a board 10 and a back 3. In the example considered, the board 10 forms a support 12 for the objects to be displayed. The support 12 defines an upper face 12a and a lower face 12b. The board 10 is oriented horizontally and is designed to take a plurality of objects for display, such as lipstick cases.

[0046] The display device 1 could be made formed of any other suitable material, including, but not limited to, any lightweight relatively stiff material such as wood, cardboard (laminated or unlaminated) or foam (laminated or unlaminated).

[0047] The board 10 may of course have a different orientation, such as a vertical or inclined orientation, at any angle of inclination.

[0048] The support 12 is optionally made of acrylic glass, especially transparent acrylic glass. The back 3 is a plate oriented approximately vertically and including a portion 3a extending upward from the support 12. This portion 3a may carry a mirror 4 to enable the consumer to test the product. Another portion 3b of the back 3 extends downwards from the support 12 and may be fitted with a component enabling the display device to be stood upright (not shown for reasons of clarity). Alternatively, the back 3 may comprise a fastening system for mounting the display device on a vertical surface (also not shown), such as a wall.

[0049] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a plurality of objects for display 100, such as lipstick cases containing lipstick product. Other cosmetic product cases containing products for sampling purposes may also be displayed. These objects may be of the type having a base 2 in which is mounted an axially movable compartment 14 containing a lipstick product P. (The axial movement structure could be any well known, manually operable mechanism for axial moving the product P.) The bases 2 are arranged on the upper face 12a of the support 12, so that an emerging end of the lipstick product P hangs down below the support 12. To enable the bases 2 to be fitted to the support 12, the latter is provided with a plurality of passages 20 passing through the support. The dimensions of the passages 20 are such that a portion 2b, typically cylindrical, of each base 2 can be received by the corresponding passage 20. An open edge or shoulder 2a on the base 2 abuts the upper edge or orifice 20a of the passage 20, thereby limiting how far the base 2 can be inserted into the support 12.

[0050] Mounted inside each passage 20 is a housing, in this instance, an added element such as cap 8 of the object being displayed. Such a cap 8 is typically cylindrical in shape, although other non-circular cross-sections could be used. The cap 8 has a closed end 8a and an open end 8b. The closed end 8a is bottommost, whereas the open end 8b is located adjacent the edge 20a (FIG. 2) of the passage 20.

[0051] The caps 8 may be made of a transparent plastic material, e.g. polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyacrylate, etc. Alternatively, the caps 8 may be made of non-transparent material, including both plastics and metals.

[0052] The height of the cap 8 is optionally such that the emerging part of the lipstick product P cannot touch the closed end or bottom 8a of the cap when the lipstick product is maximally retracted inside the compartment 14.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows in greater detail how a collection of lipstick cases 100 is mounted on the support 12. FIG. 2 shows the cap 8 fixed inside a passage 20, which passes through support 12. The cap 8 extends from the passage 20 out the underside of the lower face 12b. The cap 8 may be nonremovably fixed to the support 12, for example, by adhesive bonding or by interference fit.

[0054] Adjacent the open end 8b of the cap 8, a locking element, for instance, an annular groove 34, is provided on the inside of the cap 8. This annular groove engages with a locking element on the object, for instance, an annular bead 32 on the base 2. The bead/groove system may serve both to removably lock the base 2 in its corresponding housing or cap 8 and to seal the product against, for instance, the effects of dirt, grime, or the atmosphere.

[0055] Alternatively, the locking element of the housing could be an annular bead and the locking element of the object could be an annular groove. Furthermore, other arrangements of locking elements, such as discontinuous snapping arrangements, rotationally engaging arrangements, including, but not limited to, threads or ramps, or even frictionally engaging locking arrangements could be utilized to removably lock the object being displayed to the housing.

[0056] Arranged inside the base 2, the outer form which may be of any profile, is the axially movable compartment 14 containing the product P. The base 2 is closed by a bottom 6. Mounted inside the base is a cylindrical sleeve 5 with a free edge 30 emerging a short distance from the open edge 2a of the base 2. The emerging part or free edge 30 is radially elastically deformable and carries an annular bead 32. Thus, with the aid of a snap-fastening system, the base 2 is kept on the cap 8, which in turn is mounted (removably or nonremovably) in the support 12. This method of locking the base 2 to the cap 8 may be accomplished in an airtight manner. Consequently a support 12 can be pre-equipped with a large number of objects for display, such as lipstick cases, and can be sent “ready-to-use” to the points of sale, with no risk that the product P will become detached or spoiled.

[0057] The bottom 6 of the base 2 is provided with an internal hollow shaft 7 of cylindrical shape. The diameter of the hollow shaft 7 is such that it can be fitted with force into the lower end 16 of a mechanism 18 of a conventional lipstick case. Fixing a lipstick case mechanism in this way, i.e., with the aid of a hollow shaft inside a base, is conventional and is described, for example, in FR-A-2 575 374.

[0058] The mechanism 18 has a cylindrical jacket 36, which is rotatable relative to the lower end 16. Because the lower end 16 is immobilized with respect to the base 2, the consumer can, by turning the jacket 36, while keeping the base stationary, adjust the position of the lipstick product P, between a substantially retracted position and an extended position of the lipstick product P.

[0059] When the caps 8 are integrated nonremovably into the support 12, there is less risk of theft of the lipstick cases, because the product P would be of no practical utility without a proper protective cap.

[0060] Another optional advantage of the invention is that the caps 8 mounted in the support 12 can be the same caps as those fitted to the objects intended for sale. This factor means that the display device can be manufactured at a very advantageous cost.

[0061] What is more, with the display device as described it is possible to position the support overhead, above the eyes of the consumer. This opens up new possibilities for the arrangement of display units in which the consumer faces the displayed objects directly. The consumer can then easily select the object containing the desired product and test it.

[0062] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure and methodology described herein. Thus, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the examples discussed in the specification. Rather, the present invention is intended to cover modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A device for displaying at least one object, the device comprising:

a support;

at least one through passage defined by the support; and

at least one housing attached to the support and received at least partially within the passage, the housing comprising a first portion extending from a first side of the support and a second portion including an opening accessible from a second side of the support, opposite to the first side, the opening being configured to receive an object for display,

wherein the housing comprises a locking element configured to engage the object such that one portion of the object becomes reversibly locked in the housing and another portion of the object emerges from the second side of the support.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is nonremovably mounted in the passage.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the housing is attached to the support by one of adhesive bonding and interference between the housing and the support.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one object for display.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the object defines a compartment containing at least a portion of the product, and a compartment opening through which the product is capable of emerging.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the product is in the form of a stick.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the product comprises lipstick.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the housing is configured in the form of a cap configured to removably cover the compartment opening.

9. The device of claim 4, wherein the object comprises an object locking element configured to engage the locking element of the housing.

10. The device of claim 5, further comprising a mechanism configured to move the product between a first position wherein the product is contained within the compartment and a second position wherein the product emerges out of the compartment via the compartment opening.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the housing is dimensioned such that the object is capable of being locked in the housing only when the product is in the first position.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the locking element is configured to engage the object by a snap engagement.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the locking element comprises at least one of a groove and a bead, and wherein the locking element is configured to engage with at least one of a groove and a bead provided on the object.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the support defines a plurality of passages and the device comprises a plurality of housings associated with the passages so that a plurality of objects may be displayed.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the housing is formed of transparent material.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the support is formed of transparent material.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the locking element is configured to engage the object so that a product associated with the object is maintained in a substantially airtight manner.

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a mirror provided on the support.

19. The device of claim 4, wherein the object comprises a cosmetic product.

20. A device for displaying at least one object, the device comprising:

a support;

at least one through passage defined by the support;

at least one housing attached to the support and received at least partially within the passage, the housing having a locking element; and

at least one object received at least partially within the housing, the object having a locking element,

wherein the locking element of the housing and the locking element of the object are configured to engage and lock the object to the housing.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the locking element of the housing and the locking element of the object are configured to engage and reversibly lock the object to the housing.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the housing is nonremovably mounted within the passage by one of adhesive bonding and interference fit.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein the housing is removably locked to the support.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the housing is configured in the form of a cap supplied with an object offered for sale.

25. The device of claim 20, wherein the housing is at least partially formed from a transparent material.

26. The device of claim 20, wherein the support is at least partially formed from a transparent material.

27. The device of claim 20, wherein the support comprises a plurality of passages and the device comprises a plurality of housings associated with the passages, each housing being configured to receive one of a plurality of objects.

28. The device of claim 27, further comprising a plurality of objects, wherein the plurality of objects comprises lipstick devices containing lipstick.

29. The device of claim 20, wherein the object includes a compartment containing the product and a compartment opening through which the product emerges, the housing being configured in the form of a cap capable of removably covering the compartment opening.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the object comprises a mechanism movable between a first position in which the product is substantially contained within the compartment and a second position in which the product emerges out of the compartment through the compartment opening, the housing being dimensioned so as to accept the object only when the mechanism is in the first position.

31. The device of claim 20, wherein the locking element of the housing and the locking element of the object are configured so as to engage with each other by snap engagement in order to removably lock the object in the housing.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the locking element of the housing comprises one of a groove and a bead configured to engage with the corresponding other of a groove and a bead provided on the object.

33. The device of claim 31, wherein the locking element of the housing and the locking element of the object are configured to engage to one another to maintain a product in the object in a substantially airtight manner.

34. A method comprising:

providing the device of claim 1;

inserting at least one object for display into the housing of the device at a site remote from a point of sale, the object containing a product for sampling;

transporting the device from the remote site to the point of sale; and

using the device to display the at least one object to consumers for purposes of testing the product.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the product comprises a lipstick product.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the object is removably locked to the housing prior to transporting the device, and wherein the object is removably locked to the housing during the using of the device to display.