Patent Application
20250235016
This invention relates to displays for discrete objects and, more particularly, to a display that utilizes reflected images to provide three-dimensional visual enhancement.
A multitude of discrete objects are commonly displayed in a manner to individually highlight the objects for viewers. These objects may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional objects.
For example, a single sheet or panel may bear matter that has personal value, historical value, artistic value, etc. The sheet/panel may be placed within a volume that is dimensioned relative to the sheet/panel such that the bounding walls of the case volume are for the most part spaced from the sheet/panel with the sheet/panel thereby substantially centered within a space to be viewable through 360° around its periphery. This design gives the object(s) a highlighted appearance and makes it appropriate for decorative display.
Displays of the above type with a 360° viewing option are common in many industries. For example, pieces of jewelry are often highlighted in cases by being generally centered within spherical or square volumes.
General merchandise is often displayed on shelves in stores with transparent front walls and doors which allow viewing of three-dimensional objects placed therewithin from primarily a front perspective.
Trophy cases also use the merchandise display concept at historical repository locations, such as in museums, schools, etc.
It is common in a school to have trophy cases with shelves supporting objects that are two- and three-dimensional in nature. For example, trophies are commonly displayed, together with banners, objects used in actual competition, etc. To give each of the objects a prominent appearance, it is desirable to have each object spaced a substantial distance away from front and rear volume-bounding walls.
However, space constraints generally dictate that many of the objects in these trophy cases are placed against a rear wall whereby there is limited highlighting of each individual object. For example, a plaque may be leaned against or mounted on a rear wall of the case, whereby the concept of highlighting, by providing a surrounding unobstructed case volume, does not occur. Such a displayed plaque has a limited three-dimensional viewable aspect by reason of the rear wall thereof abutting the rear wall of the case.
In short, highlighting of two- and three-dimensional objects by having a surrounding space, for example through 360° around the perimeter thereof, is commonly not practical. That is, the size of the case necessary to establish this relationship may make the case impractically expensive and may demand an occupying volume that is not feasible in many environments, particularly where a large number of the objects are displayed.
Those entities that make cases for displaying objects—be it for commercial purposes, aesthetic purposes, sentimental purposes, etc.—are constantly challenged to develop designs and techniques that maximize the competing objectives of creating an affordable display, creating a display that is aesthetically pleasing and highlights objects, and that can be made compactly when space is at a premium for such objects.
In one form, the invention is directed to a display device consisting of: a wall structure including a rear wall having a reflective surface portion; and an object or depiction of an object in a display position: a) at; or b) spaced forwardly of the rear wall. The wall structure further includes a front wall. The wall structure has a transparent portion. The front wall has at least a portion spaced forwardly of the rear wall. There is at least one indicium at at least one location on the at least portion of the front wall spaced forwardly of the object or depiction of an object. The display device is configured so that, as viewed from a first perspective through the transparent portion of the wall structure, a reflected image of the at last one indicium at the reflective surface portion appears to be: i) behind the object or depiction of an object, with the object or depiction of an object at the rear wall; and ii) further behind the object or depiction of an object than the rear wall is spaced behind the object or depiction of an object, with the object or depiction of an object spaced forwardly of the rear wall.
In one form, the at least one indicium is on the transparent portion of the wall structure.
In one form, the wall structure further includes a peripheral wall portion between the front and rear walls.
In one form, a part of the transparent portion of the wall structure is on the peripheral wall portion. The first perspective is through the peripheral wall portion where the peripheral wall portion is transparent.
In one form, a part of the transparent portion of the wall structure is on the front wall. The first perspective is through the front wall where the front wall is transparent.
In one form, the front and rear walls each is substantially flat and resides within a plane. The front and rear walls are spaced fully from each other.
In one form, the planes of the front and rear walls are substantially parallel to each other.
In one form, the reflective surface portion of the rear wall is substantially flat.
In one form, the front and rear walls each has a flat sheet shape.
In one form, the peripheral wall portion has a polygonal shape as viewed from a front perspective.
In one form, the polygonal shape is defined by flat wall portions each having a flat sheet shape.
In one form, the depiction of an object is integrally formed with the rear wall.
In one form, the wall structure is defined by a plurality of separately formed joined parts. The joined parts have cooperating connectors that are engaged.
In one form, the front and rear walls each is one of the separately formed joined parts.
In one form, the wall structure has a peripheral wall portion between the front and rear walls. The peripheral wall portion makes up at least one of the separately formed joined parts.
In one form, one of the connecting parts is a projecting part on one of: a) one of the front and rear walls; and b) the peripheral wall portion. Another of the connecting parts is a receiver for the projecting part on the other of: i) the other of the front and rear walls; and ii) the peripheral wall portion. The one of the connecting parts is engageable with the another of the connecting parts through a press fitting step.
In one form, the wall structure is configured so that the plurality of separately formed joined parts are joinable and releasably maintainable in a joined relationship without requiring use of separate fasteners.
In one form, the at least one indicium is related to the object or depiction of an object.
In one form, the at least one indicium defines at least a partial frame around the object with the display device viewed from a front perspective.
In one form, the at least one indicium does not obstruct the object as with the display device viewed from at least one front perspective.
A display device, according to the present invention, is shown schematically at 10 in
As shown in
The rear wall 14 has a reflective surface portion 24.
As seen in
The front wall 14 has at least a portion 28 that is spaced forwardly of the rear wall 16.
At least one indicium 30 is provided at at least one location on the portion 28 of the front wall 14 that is spaced forwardly of the object or depiction of an object 22.
The object or depiction of an object 22 itself is either at or spaced forwardly of the rear wall 16. It should be understood that the object or depiction of an object 22 does not have to be, in its entirety, at or spaced forwardly of the rear wall 16.
The display device 10 is configured so that as viewed from a first perspective through the transparent portion 26 of the wall structure 12, a reflected image of the at least one indicium 30 at the reflective surface portion 24 appears to be: i) behind the object or depiction of an object 22 with the object or depiction of an object 22 at the rear wall 16; or ii) further behind the object or depiction of an object 22 than the rear wall 16 is spaced behind the object or depiction of an object 22 with the object or depiction of an object 22 spaced forwardly of the rear wall 16 in its display position/state.
The schematic depictions in
For example, the nature of the object or depiction of an object 22 is not limited in terms of its nature or construction. The object or depiction of an object 22 may have a two-dimensional or three-dimensional form.
As just examples, the object in a three-dimensional form may be any type of item that is commonly placed in a display case to be viewed and which is generally placed in a space so that its perimeter is fully continuously surrounded by an open volume. Typical trophy case items, memorabilia that has sentimental value, etc. might be displayed using the device 10.
A two-dimensional object, such as a card or single sheet with information or artistic content, may be displayed. The depiction of an object 22 may be attached to the wall structure 12 or may be integrally formed as part of the wall structure 12.
As noted above, in a conventional type display, objects are frequently displayed, as in trophy cases, against bottom and/or back walls whereby the object is not fully surrounded by an empty space, extending around at least one axis, which gives the object a prominent or highlighted display appearance. If this effect is desired, as in a trophy case, an object is often spaced a substantial distance from corresponding front, rear, and side walls. As a result, a substantial overall wall structure volume may be required.
With the present invention, additional three-dimensional depth is perceived which allows the display to give the impression that the object or depiction of an object 22 is surrounded by a space, without the dimensional requirements of a conventional design.
A preferred form of the device 10 will now be described, with it being emphasized that this form is exemplary nature only. Further, throughout the description and claims herein, reference will be made to “front”, “rear”, etc. It should be understood that these are arbitrary designations which are not to be literally interpreted, and used solely to define relative positions of parts in a simplified manner.
Referring now to
The front wall 14 and rear wall 16 are both shown with a flat shape which lends itself to construction from sheet stock. The entire reflective surface portion 24 on the rear wall 16 is shown to be substantially flat which, again, is not a requirement.
In the depicted form, the front wall 14, rear wall 16, and peripheral wall portion 18 are all made from a transparent sheet material, with the rear wall 16 integrating a reflective coating, using any one of many different conventional constructions, whereby the entire front surface 32 of the rear wall 16 bounding the volume 20 makes up the reflective surface portion 24. The invention contemplates that strategic placement of one or more of the reflective surface portions 24 may be incorporated as an alternative to the depicted design.
With this exemplary construction, the front wall 14 and peripheral wall portion 18 make up the transparent portion 26.
The peripheral wall portion 18, as shown schematically in
In the depicted form, the wall structure 12 is defined by six joinable parts—the peripheral wall parts 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d, and the front and rear walls 14, 16. In the form depicted, the parts are joined through cooperating connecting parts that are engaged with the display in an assembled state which may be permanently or releasably maintained.
The peripheral wall portion 18 is connected to each of the front wall 14 and rear wall 16 through like cooperating connecting parts. On the wall part 35b, a connecting part 38 (a) is in the form of a projecting part that is press fittable into a complementary connecting part 40 (a) on the front wall 14. By aligning the connecting part 40 (a) over the connecting part 38 (a), movement of the front wall 14 and peripheral wall portion 18 towards each other causes the connecting part 38 (a) to be press fit into the connecting part 40 (a). The connecting parts 38 (a), 40 (a) can be relatively configured and dimensioned so that frictional engagement is effected therebetween adequately to maintain the assembled relationship.
Like cooperating connecting parts are provided at other locations on the device 10 to maintain the front wall 14, rear wall 16, and peripheral wall portion 18 in an assembled relationship/state. As depicted, cooperating connector parts are provided on each of the flat wall parts 35 and each of the front wall 14 and rear wall 16.
With a press fit frictional engagement arrangement, it may be possible to maintain the wall structure 12 in an assembled state without requiring separate fasteners or adhesive. It is also possible with this construction to allow disassembly of the wall structure 12 as to effect cleaning within the volume 20 and/or to change the object or depiction of an object 22. In this design, an adhesive might be used to permanently hold parts together.
As previously noted, the front wall 14 and rear wall 16 are shown to be substantially flat to each reside within a plane. As depicted, the planes of the front wall 14 and rear wall 16 are substantially parallel, but this is not a requirement.
In the exemplary form, the depiction of an object 22 is integrally formed with the rear wall 16. The exemplary shape of the object depicted 22 is a football, which is shown as substantially flat and flush with the front reflective surface 24. Of course, unlimited, different forms of objects may be depicted.
In this form, the at least one indicium 30 consists of the word “football” to be related to the depiction of the object 22 by describing the same. The word “football” is shown at several locations in different print form for illustration purposes. Other related indicia 30 may be used, for example team names, a game score, etc. This wording is used only to generically evidence how the one or more indicium 30 may be related to the object 22, be it descriptive or otherwise.
In the exemplary form, multiple indicia 30 are applied at the back surface 42 of the front wall 14, whereby reflected images of the indicial 30 appear at 30′ on the reflective surface portion 24. Since the back surface 42, on which the indicia 30 are located, is spaced the aforementioned depth distance d from the reflective surface portion 24, the reflected images of the indicia 30 are perceived from different perspectives, through the transparent portion 26 of the wall structure 12, to be behind the depiction of the object 22. This is seen most clearly in
Thus, from different front perspectives and from perspectives through the peripheral wall portion 18 as in
Accordingly, this construction effectively multiplies the perceived depth of the volume 20 and gives an observer the perception that the depiction of the object 22 is floating approximately midway between front and rear walls, with the perceived rear wall being actually the reflection of the front wall 14 and the indicia 30 thereon.
Thus, the design allows a compact construction with the perception being that there is a much deeper shape with the object or depiction of an object 22 floating between the front wall 14 and a perceived rear wall.
In this embodiment, the indicia 30 are arranged in a pattern to effectively frame the depiction of the object 22. From one front perspective, the football is unobstructed by the indicia 30. The “frame” may be defined either partially or fully around the depiction of the object 22.
While the indicia 30 are provided on transparent areas of the front wall 14, this is not a requirement for all indicia 30.
The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the invention.
