Patent Application
20130087081
Products are displayed in a variety of manners in retail environments. To enhance the display of smaller products, such as jewelry, display tables are used. The display tables can be used for drawing attention to the product. For example, the display tables can be decorated in an aesthetically pleasing manner to attract a customer to the display table. In other cases, the product can be placed alongside conspicuous indicia or signage. Display tables can also be used for displaying the product with other merchandise to increase sales.
One aspect of the present invention relates to a display table including a drawer section, a main drawer, an internal light drawer, and an upper section. The drawer section includes two opposing sidewalls partially defining a drawer compartment and a main opening. The main drawer, disposed within the drawer compartment, slidably mounts to the two opposing sidewalls and includes an exposed front panel for concealing the main opening. The internal light drawer is disposed above the main drawer and slidably couples to the two opposing sidewalls. The upper section is disposed over the drawer section to receive light when the internal light drawer is illuminated. When the main drawer is in an open position, the internal light drawer is movable relative to the main drawer. When the main drawer is in a closed position, the internal light drawer is concealed by the front panel.
Embodiments of the invention will be described with respect to the figures, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, and in which:
The following detailed description of the invention provides examples and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description of the invention.
A display table is provided for displaying product in an aesthetically pleasing, eye-catching manner. In one example, the display table includes an upper box that illuminates to provide additional light to draw attention to products on the display table. To maintain a visually appealing design, light components are disposed in an internal light drawer beneath the upper box. The internal light drawer is disposed over a main drawer for product and/or other storage, and both drawers are disposed behind a front panel to be hidden from view during product display. In addition, the internal light drawer can be manipulated independently from the main drawer to allow easy access to the lights during maintenance periods.
In particular, according to an embodiment, a display table includes a drawer section, a main drawer, an internal light drawer, and an upper section. The drawer section includes two opposing sidewalls partially defining a drawer compartment and a main opening. The main drawer, disposed within the drawer compartment, slidably mounts to the two opposing sidewalls and includes an exposed front panel for concealing the main opening. The internal light drawer is disposed above the main drawer and slidably couples to the two opposing sidewalls. The upper section is disposed over the drawer section to receive light when the internal light drawer is illuminated. When the main drawer is in an open position, the internal light drawer is movable relative to the main drawer. When the main drawer is in a closed position, the internal light drawer is concealed by the front panel.
In one embodiment, to support drawer section 16 and upper section 18, base 14 comprises a support frame 22 and legs 24, 26, 28, and 30. Legs 24, 26, 28, and 30 extend from support frame 22 and elevate drawer section 16 a desired distance off the floor. With additional reference to
In one embodiment, rails 21, 23, 25, and 27 are arranged in a shape other than rectangular. Other suitable shapes include, but are not limited to ovular, circular, square, triangular, or another polygonal shape. Accordingly, more or fewer rails 21, 23, 25, and 27 are included as parts of support frame 22 depending on a desired support frame shape. Alternatively, support frame 22 does not include rails and, rather, comprises a planar structure (not illustrated). In such case, legs 24, 26, 28, and 30 extend from the planar support frame and are positioned to suitably support drawer section 16 and upper light section 18, and the planar support frame can have a length and width that is either greater or less than that of bottom surface 34 of drawer section 16.
With additional reference to
Base 14 is formed of a material that provides structural integrity when supporting drawer section 16 and upper section 18. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to metals, such as aluminum, steel and the like, wood, plastic, and any other sturdy materials. Although base 14 is depicted as being formed as a single component (e.g., legs 24, 26, 28, and 30 and support frame 22 are formed of a single material), support frame 22 and legs 24, 26, 28, and 30 are formed as separate components in other embodiments. For example, support frame 22 is formed of wood or plastic, and legs 24, 26, 28, and 30 are formed of metal.
To improve stability of base 14, in one embodiment, each leg 24, 26, 28, and 30 includes a leg leveler 36, 38, and 40 (leveler for leg 30 is not shown). Each leg leveler 36, 38, and 40 has a stem that extends from a flat head. Each stem is inserted into a pre-drilled opening 45, 47, 49, and 51 in a corresponding leg 24, 26, 28, and 30. By adjusting a depth that each stem extends into a respective leg 24, 26, 28, and 30, the distance between the floor and base 14 can be adjusted.
With reference now to
Main drawer 46 includes a bottom wall 58, two opposing sidewalls 60 and 62, a front wall 64, and a back wall 66. Bottom wall 58 defines a bottom surface of main drawer 46, and two opposing sidewalls 60 and 62, a front wall 64, and a back wall 66 extending upwardly from bottom wall 58 define a storage area 63 for product 12 and/or supplies. According to an embodiment, a separate exposed front panel 68 attaches to front wall 58 by, for example, fasteners or adhesive.
To substantially conceal main drawer 46 from view, exposed front panel 68 (or front wall 64, if front panel 68 is omitted) substantially covers front opening 85. In one example, exposed front panel 68 (or front wall 64) has dimensions that are larger than the dimensions of front opening 85 to entirely cover front opening 85. Alternatively, front panel 68 (or front wall 64) is substantially the same size as front opening 85. Front panel 68 (or front wall 64) can also have a shape that is substantially similar to that of front opening 35. In one example, front opening 85 is substantially rectangular and, hence, front panel 68 is substantially rectangular. In an embodiment in which front panel 68 (or front wall 64) is larger than front opening 85, front opening 85 and front panel 68 (or front wall 64) may be different in shape. For instance, front opening 85 can be substantially rectangular and front panel 68 can have an oval shape.
As alluded to above, main drawer 46 is movable between a closed position and various open positions. In this regard, main drawer 46 includes railing sets each having glides 70 and 72 and railings 74 and 76. In one embodiment, glides 70 and 72 attach to opposing sidewalls 60 and 62 and are slidably coupled to corresponding railings 74 are 76 attached to interior surfaces of drawer compartment sidewalls 52 are 54. Suitable types of glide/railing sets 70, 72, 74, and 76 include ball bearing railings, linear slide rails, rack slide rails, and the like. To prevent main drawer 46 from hyperextending, glide/railing sets 70, 72, 74, and 76 include mechanisms that lock when the railings are fully extended.
In one embodiment, drawer compartment 44 includes a stop mechanism 78 to obstruct movement of the main drawer 46 and to maintain a gap 80 between back wall 58 of main drawer 46 and back wall 56 of drawer compartment 44. A width of gap 80 measured between back wall 68 and back wall 56 ranges from a few millimeters to a few centimeters. Stop mechanism 78 couples to and extends upwardly from bottom wall 50 of drawer compartment 44 (as illustrated in
To provide an improved grip surface when a user opens main drawer 46, front panel 68 includes a drawer pull 69. In one example, drawer pull 69 is disposed substantially on a top half of front panel 68 for convenience to the user. Drawer pull 69 can be friction fit inside of or adhered to walls forming a cavity area in an exterior surface of front panel 68. Alternatively, drawer pull 69 comprises a knob, flange, or other projection that attaches to front panel 68 to provide a grip surface to user.
In one embodiment, front panel 68 includes a lock 73, as illustrated, for instance, in
Referring now to
To accommodate internal light drawer 48 within main drawer 46, each of a total height of sidewall 84 of internal light drawer 48 and sidewall 60 of main drawer 46 and a total height of sidewall 86 of internal light drawer 48 and sidewall 62 of main drawer 46 is less than a height of front opening 85. In this way, both main drawer 46 and internal light drawer 48 can be simultaneously pulled out from drawer compartment 44 if desired. Although sidewalls 84 and 86 of internal light drawer 48 are depicted as being shorter in height than sidewalls 60 and 62 of main drawer 46, relative heights of the sidewalls 60, 62, 84, and 86 depend on a desired depth for internal light drawer 48 and/or main drawer 46. For instance, in embodiments in which a deeper internal light drawer 48 is desired, sidewalls 84 and 86 may be taller than sidewalls 60 and 62. Regardless, a top edge of front wall 88 of internal light drawer 48 extends below a topmost edge of front panel 68 to conceal internal light drawer 48 when main drawer 46 is closed.
Internal light drawer 48 is configured to be capable of being pulled at least partially out of drawer compartment 44 when main drawer 46 is in one of its various open positions. In this regard, internal light drawer 48 includes railing sets each having glides 100 and 102 and railings 104 and 106. The glides 100 and 102 can be attached to opposing sidewalls 84 and 86 at positions above glides 70 and 72 and can be slidably coupled to corresponding railings 104 and 106 attached to interior surfaces of drawer compartment sidewalls 52 and 54 above railings 74 and 76. Suitable types of glide/railing sets 100, 102, 104, and 106 include ball bearing railings, linear slide rails, rack slide rails, and the like.
When main drawer 46 is fully extended, internal light drawer 48 can move between a retracted (i.e., closed) position and various extended (i.e., open) positions. To prevent hyperextension of internal light drawer 48, glide/railing sets 100, 102, 104, and 106 include locking mechanisms. Additionally, in one example, a stop mechanism 108 is included in the drawer compartment 44 to maintain a gap 96 between back wall 90 and back sidewall 56 to obstruct movement of the internal light 48 within main compartment 44. For example, stop mechanism 108 extends from bottom wall 50 of drawer compartment 44. In one embodiment, stop mechanism 108 extends from back wall 90 of internal light drawer 48 toward back sidewall 56 of drawer compartment 44. In another example, stop mechanism 108 couples to and extends from back sidewall 56 of drawer compartment 44 toward back wall 90 of internal light drawer 48. Stop mechanism 108 can comprise one or more plates, rods, and the like.
To improve a user's grip on internal light drawer 48, front wall 88 of internal light drawer 48 includes a cutout 110. Although cutout 110 is depicted as extending downwardly into front wall 88 from a top edge 112 of front wall 88, cutout 110 alternatively can be formed as an opening through front wall 88. For ease of manufacture, back wall 90 can also or alternatively include cutout 110 as well.
In one embodiment, light fixtures or lighting fixtures 92 and 94 attach to one or more of bottom panel 82 and sidewalls 84, 86, 88, and 90. Light fixtures 92 and 94 include one or more components suitable for providing illumination, including but not limited to fluorescent light bulbs, light emitting diodes (LEDs), light strips, and the like. Depending on a particular configuration, light fixtures 92 and 94 can extend from front wall 88 of internal light drawer 48 to back wall 90. For example, a fluorescent light bulb comprising a tube extends between front and back walls 88 and 90 (as illustrated in
An electrical conduit 98 extends under and between light fixtures 92 and 94 to guide wires to an opening (not shown) formed in bottom panel 82 of internal light drawer 48. In one embodiment, electrical conduit 98 is formed from one or more tubes comprising insulated material and the like. The wires can run through the bottom panel opening (not illustrated) and into gap 96 between back wall 90 of internal light drawer 48 and back sidewall 56 of drawer compartment 44. In an embodiment, gap 96 is smaller than gap 80. In other embodiments, gap 96 is substantially equal to or larger than gap 80. In one example, wire extends from gap 96 to gap 80 and into wire managers 51.
In one embodiment, display table 10 includes various features to conceal wires within display table 10. In one example, returning to
With reference to FIGS. 4 and 10-12, bottom wall 50 conceals wires from internal light drawer 48 to improve visual appearance of display table 10. In one example, bottom wall 50 includes one or more wire managers 51 and a flange 53 mounted to a bottom surface 34 of bottom wall 50. Wire managers 51 extend at least partially across bottom surface 34 of bottom wall 50. For example, as illustrated in
Each wire manager 51 has an attachment panel 55 that attaches wire manager 51 to a desired surface such as bottom surface 34 of bottom wall 50. Attachment panel 55 can be nailed, tacked, pinned, adhered, or otherwise secured to the desired surface. An extension portion 57 extends along a length of attachment panel 55 and maintains wires in the wire manager 51. As illustrated in
Flange 53 is disposed between two wire managers 51 to receive wires from one or both managers 51. Flange 53 organizes an extra length of the wires and allows the wires to extend and retract as desired by a user. In this regard, as illustrated with additional reference to
With reference to
In an embodiment, upper section 16 includes a modular frame 114, translucent sidewalls 111, 113, 115, and 117, and a top planar assembly 118. Modular frame 114 provides structure to upper section 16 and comprises a material for providing structural integrity for display table 10. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, metal, such as steel, aluminum, and the like, plastic, or any other material. In an embodiment, modular frame 114 is formed from a single piece of material. In another embodiment, components of modular frame 114 are welded or otherwise coupled to one another to form a unitary structure.
Modular frame 114 includes a bottom rail 122, a top rail 124, and side rails 126, 128, 130, and 132. Bottom rail 122 is disposed below top rail 124, and remains open toward internal light drawer 48 to allow light therefrom to illuminate translucent sidewalls 111, 113, 115, and 117. Side rails 126, 128, 130, and 132 extend from bottom rail 122 to top rail 124. According to an embodiment, such as that illustrated in
Translucent sidewalls 111, 113, 115, and 117 are made of acrylic, plastic or another material capable of allowing light to pass through. In an embodiment, translucent sidewalls 111, 113, 115, and 117 are shaped to correspond with side openings formed by bottom and top rails 122 and 124 and side rails 126, 128, 130, and 132. Translucent sidewalls 111, 113, 115, and 117 are substantially rectangular to cover the side openings. In other embodiments, translucent sidewalls 111, 113, 115, and 117 have a different shape such as circular, ovular, square, or another polygonal shape. In still other embodiments, although four translucent sidewalls 111, 113, 115, and 117 are depicted in
One or more of translucent sidewalls 111, 113, 115, and 117 are generally a single color or multiple colors, in an embodiment. Alternatively or additionally, one or more of translucent sidewall 111, 113, 115, and 117 include designs or indicia that draw attention to display table 10. For example, one or more of translucent sidewalls 111, 113, 115, and 117 include brand indicia, indicia indicating a sale or clearance item, colorful designs, patterns, and/or the like.
Top planar assembly 118 includes a top support member or top planar support member 120 and a dust tray 122. Top planar support member 120 is substantially rectangular and includes exposed, top surface 20, which as briefly mentioned above, is configured to provide a display surface for product 12. An outermost edge 107 of top planar support member 120 includes a groove 109 that engages with modular frame 114 to maintain top planar assembly 118 in position on top rail 124.
In one embodiment, top planar support member 120 is configured so that light does not directly illuminate product 12 displayed on display table 10. According to an embodiment, top planar support member 120 comprises an opaque material, in an embodiment. With additional reference to
In an embodiment, apertures 121 are evenly spaced across top planar support member 120. In an example, apertures 121 form rows and columns. Although five rows and seven columns are shown, more or fewer are included in other embodiments. In another embodiment, apertures 121 are arranged in a different pattern. For example, apertures 121 can be disposed in concentric circle patterns, zigzag patterns, or form other designs. In still another embodiment, apertures 121 are formed randomly across top planar support member 120.
In some configurations, some apertures 121 are not used for holding display stands. To prevent objects or particles from falling into internal light drawer 48, dust tray 122 is disposed beneath top planar support member 120, as illustrated in
To maintain translucent sidewalls 111, 113, 115, and 117 in position, various retention features are included in modular frame 114. With additional reference to
Sidewall-retaining gap 166 is defined by a vertical portion 156 of top rail 124, a top lip 158, and a top planar portion 160 of top rail 124. Vertical portion 156, which defines an outermost edge 162 of top rail 124, a topmost edge 164 of top rail 124 extending from outermost edge 162, and a lip wall 165 extending downwardly from topmost edge 164 define top lip 158 and sidewall-retaining gap 166. Vertical portion 156 and lip wall 165 are suitably dimensioned to provide space for an edge of one or more translucent sidewalls 111, 113, 115, and 117 to be disposed therein when translucent sidewall 116 rests on bottom shelf 123. Accordingly, sidewall-retaining gap 166 is preferably greater than a thickness of translucent sidewall 116.
Returning to
By including the above-described retention features, the topmost edge of each translucent sidewall 111, 113, 115, and 117 is disposed in sidewall-retaining gap 166, and the bottommost edge of each translucent sidewall 111, 113, 115, and 117 rests on bottom shelf 123. Side edges of translucent sidewall 111 rest inside sidewall corners 167 and 169, respectively, side edges of translucent sidewall 113 rest inside sidewall corners 169 and 171, respectively, side edges of translucent sidewall 115 rest inside sidewall corners 171 and 173, respectively, and side edges of translucent sidewall 117 rest inside sidewall corners 173 and 169, respectively.
Modular frame 114 also includes retention features for suspending top planar assembly 118 over drawer section 114. With additional reference to
To display product using display table 10, product 12 is placed on top planar support member 120, for example, by using one or more display stands 123, 125, 127, 129, and 131. As shown in
Over time, light fixtures 92 and 94 may need maintenance. In this regard, with reference to
Product 12 and/or supplies for maintaining light fixtures 92 and 94 may be disposed in main drawer 46, and thus, the user may need to access main drawer 46. To open a locked main drawer 46, the user inserts a key into keyhole 71 to unlock locking mechanism 77. If main drawer 46 is in the closed position, the user grips drawer pull 69 to slide main drawer 46 forward and internal light drawer 48 remains at least partially in drawer compartment 44. If main drawer 46 is in an open position, the user slides internal light drawer 48 backwards to a partially open (as shown in
A lighted retail display has now been provided with a light access drawer that is hidden from view and easy to access during maintenance periods. By positioning the light access drawer over the main drawer, allowing the two drawers to be movable relative to each other, and including a locking mechanism between the two drawers, light fixtures within the light access drawer can be replaced and/or repaired while the storage area of the main drawer remains inaccessible.
Although the invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments, such embodiments are meant for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered to limit the invention. Various alternatives and changes will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Other modifications within the scope of the invention and its various embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill.
