Lamp display stand

Abstract

Lamp display stand having a body that has within it at least one cavity large enough to receive a lamp base. A lamp base enters a cavity through an opening. A lamp pole, which is connected to the lamp base, exits through a slot in the top surface of the stand body. The lamp pole and base fit flush within, respectively, the slot and the cavity, thereby restricting the angle of movement of the lamp. The stand can also have a notched shelf for restricting the lamp pole intermediate between the lamp base and the lamp head.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of product display. More specifically, the invention relates to a display stand for lamps, preferably floor lamps.

[0002] The bases of floor lamps generally possess no more surface area than is necessary to maintain the lamps in an upright position while they stand undisturbed in the corner of an office or residential room. Typically, floor lamps can withstand only moderate impacts without tipping over. Their level of tipping resistance is insufficient for some retail environments in which lamps are displayed in crowded aisles and in the midst of customer foot traffic.

[0003] Unlike the consumer end use environment, lamps in the retail environment are displayed in close proximity to other lamps. This further underscores the importance of tipping resistance in that groups of standing lamps are vulnerable to mass damage via the domino effect. Furthermore, when in close proximity to other lamps, lamps need not be tipped completely over to be damaged or cause damage. Rather, slight rocking may cause their shades (many of which are glass) to strike each other.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,460 to Strickland discloses a lamp holder for a table lamp. The design of the '460 invention is different from that of the present invention. While the invention of the '460 patent fulfills its objectives and requirements, it does not, among other things, describe or suggest a lamp holder that is suitable for a floor lamp in a retail environment.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,764 to Strickland discloses a lamp base and lamp base kit for use by a consumer. The design of the '764 invention is also different from that of the present invention. While the invention of the '764 patent fulfills its objectives and requirements, it does not, among other things, describe or suggest a lamp holder that is suitable for a high volume retail environment.

[0006] It should be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved lamp display stand that furnishes excellent tipping resistance; is suitable for the retail environment; and facilitates the secure, orderly and decorative display of multiple lamps while at the same time facilitating easy mounting and dismounting of lamps from the display stand. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills these needs and others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention relates to a lamp display stand having a holder body that contains at least one cavity large enough to receive a lamp base. A lamp base enters the cavity through at least one side opening in the holder body. A lamp pole, which is connected to the lamp base, enters through at least one slot opening above the cavity. The slot opening, which is cut into the top surface of the holder body, is contiguous with the side opening. It is also contiguous with and narrower than the cavity. The bottom surface of the holder body is capable of being maintained in stable relation with a support surface, such as a floor.

[0008] In preferred embodiments, the lamp display stand has a plurality of cavities, side openings and slot openings. They may vary in distance from one another so that product boxes and other materials may be displayed between the received lamps in a non-monotonous manner.

[0009] In preferred embodiments, the slot openings are narrow enough that the angle of movement of the lamp poles is restricted. This prevents a received lamp from striking adjacent lamps. To so prevent, the slot openings must be about 2 to 4 inches wide, most preferably 3 inches. The height of the cavities may also, if low enough, restrict the angle of movement of the lamp base, such that a received lamp cannot strike adjacent lamps. To do so, the height of the interior of the cavities must be approximately 2 to 5 inches, preferably 2-¾ inches.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the lamp display stand holds a plurality of floor or torchiere lamps. It comprises, when fully assembled, a substantially box-shaped holder body having a length of 4 to 30 feet, a width of 12 to 36 inches and a height of 3 to 7 inches. The holder body contains 4 to 10 cavities, each of which has a length of 6 to 26 inches, a width of 8 to 16 inches and a height of 3 to 4 inches. The side openings into each of the cavities have a length of 8 to 16 inches and a width of 3 to 4 inches. On its top side, the holder body also has a slot opening over and into each of the cavities. The slot openings have a length of 6 to 26 inches, a width of 2 to 4 inches and a depth of 1 to 2 inches.

[0011] In another exemplary embodiment, the lamp display stand comprises, when fully assembled (meaning assembled from segments into a length likely to be used in a retail environment), a substantially box-shaped holder body having a length of 20 feet, a width of 22 inches and a height of 5 inches. The holder body contains 8 cavities. The cavities have a length of 12 inches, a width of 12 inches and a height of 3 inches. Each cavity has a lateral side opening into it. Each side opening has a length of 12 inches and a width of 2-¾ inches. Each cavity also has above it a slot opening. The slot openings have a length of 12 inches, a width of 3 inches and a depth of 1-½ inches. The lamp display stand may be constructed of metal, plastic, wood, laminate or fiberboard, preferably fiberboard, most preferably medium density fiberboard.

[0012] The lamp stand can also include an intermediary shelf between the base and the head of a torchiere of floor lamp. The intermediary shelf can be used to store additional lamp boxes and can include slots to receive the lamp stems intermediate between the base and the top of the lamp.

[0013] Also disclosed are various embodiments of a lamp accessory showcase. The showcase comprises a showcase body having a substantially box-like six-sided shape. The open side defines the front of the showcase. The showcase body also has a bottom wall, a top wall, a back wall and two vertical walls.

[0014] The showcase contains a plurality of substantially box-like partitions. The partitions share with the showcase body the open front, the bottom wall, the top wall, the back wall and the two vertical walls. The partitions also have sides that are not shared with the showcase body, namely, inner horizontal and vertical sides. The partitions vary in shape and dimension, from large rectangular boxes to small cubes. The dimensions range from a width of 6-½ to 12 inches, a depth of 18 to 22 inches and a height of approximately 10 to 20 inches. The varied shapes and dimensions facilitate the proximate display of dissimilarly shaped lamp parts and accessories. In other words, the showcase facilitates the display, in a single structure, of various lamp shades, stems, bases, bodies and even entire desk lamps.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the angles defined by the top front corners of the two vertical walls of the showcase body are slightly greater than 90 degrees, preferably 91 to 94 degrees, most preferably 92.39 degrees. Accordingly, the angles defined by the bottom front corners of the two vertical walls are slightly less than 90 degrees, preferably 86 to 89 degrees, most preferably 87.61 degrees. One purpose of the obtuse top corners and the acute bottom corners is to allow light to better reach the displayed items. Another is to facilitate the reaching of items, insofar as it is difficult for customers to reach both high and deep.

[0016] To match the gradual narrowing of the vertical walls of the showcase body, the front edges of the inner vertical sides of the partitions are defined by a similarly acute trajectory. Otherwise, the front edges of the vertical sides of the partitions would begin, moving from bottom to top, to jut out past the ever narrowing vertical walls of the showcase body.

[0017] In the preferred embodiment of the showcase, the showcase body is made from fiberboard and assembled by means of clips. The segments from which the fully assembled structure is constructed are preferably 17-½ to 48 inches long, 58 to 72 inches high, and 15 to 19-{fraction (9/16)} inches wide at the top and 21 to 23 inches wide at the bottom. When fully assembled, the showcase body is preferably 11 feet 3 inches to 12 feet long, 58 to 72 inches high, and 15 to 19 inches wide at the top and 21 to 23 inches wide at the bottom. The showcase body and partitions may be constructed of metal, plastic, wood, laminate or fiberboard, preferably fiberboard, most preferably medium density fiberboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In describing a preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference is made to the appended drawings in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a segment of an exemplary embodiment of the lamp display stand.

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a number of segments assembled into an exemplary embodiment of the lamp display stand.

[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary segment of lamp accessory showcase.

[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative exemplary embodiment of a lamp accessory showcase.

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates a display stand according to the present invention with a number of torchieres in position in the stand.

[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary lamp showcase according to the present invention with a number of table lamps in position in the individual case compartments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates body segment 10 of a lamp display stand. Typically, a fully assembled display stand comprises a number of body segments of varying sizes connected together. Body segment 10 has within it three cavities 15, which are large enough to receive a lamp base 14. The lamp base 14 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow A to enter cavity 15 through the opening 20 at the end of the cavity 15. A lamp pole 16 connected to lamp base 14, exits through slot 25 in top surface 30 connected to cavity 15. Slots 25 extend from openings 20 and are contiguous with, and narrower than, cavities 15. The bottom surface of body segment 10 is capable of being maintained in stable relation with a support surface, such as a floor.

[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates a number of segments connected end to end to form a longer display stand. The lamp display stand 5, is constructed of medium density fiberboard and comprised of four varied body segments 10, 11, 12 and 13. The stand 5 can be assembled at the retail store from the individual segments to accommodate the retail space and the lamps to be displayed. The resultant stand configuration is endless, dependant only on the number and configuration of available segments.

[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, stand 5 has a length of twenty feet, a width of twenty-two inches and a height of five inches. Stand 5 contains eight cavities 15. Cavities 15 each have a length of twelve inches, a width of twelve inches and a height of three inches. Stand 5 also has an opening 20 into each cavity 15. Each opening 20 has a width of twelve inches and a height of two and three-fourth inches. Cut into top surface 30 is a slot 25 over each cavity 15. Each slot opening 25 has a length of twelve inches, a width of three inches and a depth of one and one-half inches.

[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates a segment of a preferred lamp accessory showcase. The open side defines the front of medium-size showcase segment 30. Medium-size showcase segment 30 also has top wall 31, two side walls 32, a bottom wall and a back wall. The front edges of side walls 32 angle back toward the rear wall two to five degrees from vertical. Segment 30 contains twenty-five, box-shaped compartments. The compartments provide separated locations for retail display objects. FIG. 4 illustrates a further exemplary embodiment of the lamp accessory showcase. The extended case 40 is comprised of a number of case segments 41, 42, 43, 44 assembled end to end.

[0029] FIG. 5 illustrates a number of torchiere lamps 51 held in position by the display stand 50 of the present invention. A number of torchieres 51 of different styles with bases 14 inserted into cavities 15 are supported at various spacing along stand 50. The spacing between the torchieres 51 allows for placing of product boxes 52 between the lamps 51 and also supported by stand 50. Stand 50 also includes an intermediate shelf 53 which can accommodate additional product boxes 52 and/or accessories 54

[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with a back 61 and a shelf 62 similar to stand 50. However, shelf 62 has a plurality of notches 63 to accommodate the lamp stems 16 of the torchiere floor lamps 51. Positioning lamp stems 16 within notches 63 helps to maintain the stability of lamps 51 and to avoid contact and damage between adjacent lamps 51. Limiting the movement of lamps 51 not only reduces potential damage but also allows for closer spacing of lamps to allow increased product in a given retail space.

[0031] The foregoing presentation is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications to the invention described can be implemented in many other designs. By way of example, the lamp display stand could contain far more cavities than are expressly illustrated herein. Or, each cavity could have two side openings, one on each lateral side, thereby facilitating use of the invention from both sides. Each cavity could also have two slot openings, one on the “bottom” side of the holder body and one on the “top” side. This would allow the top and bottom sides of the holder body to be used interchangeably. Further, each cavity and slot could me much longer than are herein expressly illustrated. For example, they could be lengthened so as to be capable of receiving six lamps in a single cavity. Further, the shape of the holder body could be something other than a box. For example, it could be circular or pyramidal.

[0032] These and many other various changes and embodiments may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is intended to be determined by reference to the claims and their equivalent in light of the prior art.

Claims

1. A display stand for floor lamps having a base and a pole, comprising:

a body having at least one cavity large enough to receive a lamp base;

at least one opening into said cavity;

at least one slot extending through a top surface of said body and into said cavity.

2. The lamp display stand of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of cavities,

a plurality of openings each associated with a respective one of said cavities; and

a plurality of slots configured to accommodate a lamp pole, each associated with a respective one of said cavities.

3. The lamp display stand of claim 2, wherein said slot openings are narrow enough that the angle of movement of received lamp poles is restricted such that a received lamp cannot strike adjacent lamps.

4. The lamp display stand of claim 3, wherein each of said slot openings is 2 to 4 inches wide.

5. The lamp display stand of claim 4, wherein each of said slot openings is 3 inches wide.

6. The lamp display stand of claim 2, wherein the height of said cavities is low enough that the angle of movement of received lamp bases is restricted such that a received lamp cannot strike adjacent lamps.

7. The lamp display stand of claim 6, wherein the height of each of said cavities is 2 to 5 inches.

8. The lamp display stand of claim 7, wherein the height of each of said cavities is 2-¾ inches.

9. The lamp display stand of claim 2, wherein the distances between some of said cavities and other of said cavities vary.

10. The lamp display stand of claim 2, wherein said body is substantially box-shaped.

11. The lamp display stand of claim 2, wherein said holder body is substantially circular.

12. A display stand for floor lamps having a base and a pole, comprising:

a plurality of separable segments, each segment comprising:

a body having at least one cavity large enough to receive a lamp base;

at least one opening into said cavity;

at least one slot configured to accommodate a lamp pole, extending through a top surface of said body and into said cavity.

13. A display stand for torchiere lamps, comprising:

a horizontally extending stand base; having

at least one cavity large enough to receive a torchiere base; and

at least one slot configured to accommodate a torchiere vertical stem,

extending through a top surface of said stand base and into said cavity;

a vertically extending back wall connected to said base and extending to a height greater than half the height of said torchiere lamps;

an intermediate shelf attached to said back wall between said stand base and the top of said wall and extending horizontally from said back wall.

14. A display stand according to claim 13, further comprising:

at least one notch in said intermediate shelf corresponding to and aligned vertically above said slot in said stand base.

15. A display stand according to claim 14, wherein:

said base as a plurality of cavities and slots and said intermediate shelf has a corresponding plurality of notches aligned with respective ones of said plurality of slots.