BRACKET AND POINT OF SALE DISPLAY FOR JEWELRY

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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to jewelry display apparatus, and more particularly to brackets and displays for strand jewelry composed of multiple links.

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.

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.

It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a bracket for securely retaining link jewelry for display purposes.

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.

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.

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.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

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.

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.

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.

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

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in accordance with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective and side elevation views, respectively, of a bracket according to the present invention;

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;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a perspective view and bottom plan view of a second embodiment of a point of display;

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;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of a third embodiment of a point of sale display in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view thereof; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.