Patent Application
20070090257
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a support for displaying discs and disc-like forms such as plates and bowls. The support permits a disc to be shown standing up-right on an outer edge of the disc. The support permits such a disc display to be made on a horizontal surface or on mounted on a wall.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
Disc supports have been used for displaying an ornamental nature or design of a plate or bowl. The most common disc supports on the market are typically a bi-fold support with a hinge between two upright J-shaped sections. The elongated part of the “J” supports the back of the disc while the hook portion of the “J” supports the bottom of a disc.
Another support on the market has a stable horizontal base with an integral upright back piece protruding vertically upwards from the base. The disc is supported in this device in the same manner as described in the bi-fold “J” support.
Although both types of disc supports are effect for supporting discs on a flat surface, neither can be converted to supporting the same disc on a wall.
Therefore, what is needed is a support that can support a disc on a flat surface and also be easily converted for mounting and supporting a disc wall surface.
An object of the present invention is to provide a support that can be mounted on a flat surface or a wall surface.
The present invention is directed to a disc support device that has a V-shaped base and an elongated tier. The V-shaped base has a first side and a second side and a pair of disc receiving notches on the first side for receiving an edge of a disc. The elongated tier has a first end and a second end. A hinge is provided for connecting the second side of the base to the first end of the elongated tier so that the base may pivot from a planar orientation relative to the tier to a right angle to the tier. A removable peg extends vertically upward from the second end of the elongated tier when the base and the elongated tier are in a planar orientation relative to each other.
a and 1b are overhead views of the support device in the planar position;
The present invention is described with reference to the figures.
In a preferred embodiment, the second side 12 of the base 2 has dual extensions 8. Each of the dual extensions defines a drill passage 17 for receiving a rod 6.
The elongated tier 3 has a first end 13 and a second end 14. The first end 13 of the tier 3 is connected to the V-shaped base 2 by a hinge A. The hinge A permits the base and the tier to orient in a planar position relative to each other (See
In a preferred embodiment, the first end 13 of the tier 3 has a finger 7 protruding therefrom. The finger is complimentary in size and shape to be received between the dual extensions 8 of the base 2. The finger 7 has a drill passage 17 similar to the drill passage in the dual extensions 8. A rod 6 that is substantially linear is treaded through an extension 8, then through the finger 7 and then through the second extension 8 to securely connect the base 2 to the tier 3. The rod can be removable or non-removable. The dual extensions 8, finger 7 and rod 6 operate as a hinge A. Optionally, the dual extensions may be on the first end 13 of the tier 3 and the finger may be a part of the second side 12 of the base 2.
Optionally, the rod 6 has one or more stops 10 to prevent the rod from falling out of the drill passages 17. The stops may be wire, wood, metal, a screw or any other means of securing the rod. he stops are either integral or removable. At least one end of the rod has a removable stop in the case where the rod has stops so that the rod may be removed from the support.
The elongated tier defines a peg receiving recess 15 at the middle or at a second end 14 thereof. There may be more than one peg receiving recess along the length of the elongated tier for adjusting the peg position. The peg receiving recess 15 receives a peg 5. The peg extends vertically upwards from the tier when placed in the recess 15. The peg 5 may also lean slightly forward or backward depending on the shape and size of the disc. The peg 5 is removable. The peg 5 has a length of 0.5-16 inches. The length of the peg 5 can be greater or less to accommodate differing size discs.
The peg 5 is inserted in the recess 15 when the support 1 is in a planar orientation as shown in
Optionally, the support may comprise a plurality of elongated tiers that are interchangeable with the V-shaped base. Each of the plurality of elongated tiers have different lengths. Different sizes of elongated tiers can be used depending on the different sizes of discs that are to be supported.
The elongated tier has a mounting means (not shown) for mounting the support device to a wall when in the right angle orientation. The mounting means may be a bracket affixed on a back side 9 of the tier 3. The mounting means may also be a drill hole through the tier wherein a nail or a screw can be inserted and driven into a wall to affix the support 1 to a wall. Any other suitable mounting means may be applied to the support to affix the support to a wall.
The disc support may be made of one or more materials selected from wood, plastic, metal, glass and stone. Other hard and strong materials may be substituted as long as they have sufficient strength to hold a disc without breaking. Hand carved wood is preferred for its esthetic value.
When the disc support is in a planar orientation, it has a distance between the first side of the base and the second end of the tier (C) of about 3-14 inches. When the support is in an orientation where the base is at a right angle to the tier, the support has a height defined by the distance between the first end and the second end of the tier (D) of 3-14 inches. The first end of the tier includes the length of the finger 7 in a preferred embodiment. The distance (B) of the base 2 is from 3-14 inches. Smaller or larger sizes for the various measurements B, C, and D for the support device are also contemplated to accommodate different shapes and sizes of discs.
In another embodiment of the invention, the V-shaped base 2 and elongated tier 3 are integral with each other and a single planar orientation is possible. In this embodiment, a V-shaped base has a pair of disc receiving notches on a first open side of the V for receiving an edge of a disc; an elongated tier extending from the base from a pointed side of the base and being integral with the base, the elongated tier having a second end. A peg extends vertically upward from the elongated tier to support the back of a disc.
Having generally described this invention, a further understanding can be obtained by reference to certain specific examples which are provided herein for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to be limiting unless otherwise specified.
The following examples show how the device is used in the different orientations.
The base and the tier are placed in a planar orientation relative to each other. A peg is inserted vertically into the tier. A disc is placed on the device with an outer edge of the disc being received by the notches in the base and a back surface of the disc is supported by the peg.
The base and the tier are placed in a right angle orientation relative to each other. The peg is removed from the tier. The support device is then mounted against a wall. A disc is placed on the device with an outer edge of the disc being received by the notches in the base and a back surface of the disc is supported by the tier.
Having now fully described the invention, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set for the herein.
This application is based on and claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/596,846 filed Oct. 25, 2005.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60596846 | Oct 2005 | US |
