Front-loading display system

Abstract

The subject matter of the current invention is directed to a front-loading display system adapted for safe, frequent, and rapid change of displayed objects. The display system includes a base and an object-holding assembly. The object-holding assembly can be releasably attached to the base through the use of a fastener, which allows the base to remain mounted to a mounting surface when changing display objects. In a preferred embodiment, the fastener employs magnetic force to connect the base and the object-holding assembly. The display object is retained between a resting plate and a cover plate, the two plates being releasably attached to each other by the use of at least one holding device, which may be selected from clips, clasps, hinges and elastic bands.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cutaway side view of an exemplary display system 10 having a fastener that includes at least two attachment pieces 15 attached to the support surface 22 of the base 30 and at least two counter-attachment pieces 14 attached to the rear surface 18 of the resting plate 12. The figure further illustrates an exemplary base 30, having at least two side panels 29. An exemplary object-holding assembly includes a resting plate 12, a cover plate 11 and holding devices 21 (shown schematically), which are used to releasably attach the resting plate and the cover plate to each other. A display object 16 is indicated between the resting plate and the cover plate.

FIG. 2 illustrates the assembly of an exemplary object-holding assembly 20. The display object 16 is placed upon the support surface 17 of the resting plate 12. The cover plate 11 is then lowered onto the resting plate positioning the display object between the resting plate and the cover plate. In a subsequent step, one or more holding device (not shown) is attached to releasably attach the resting plate and the cover plate to each other.

FIG. 3A through 3C are front-views of the object-holding assembly 20 and illustrate various embodiments of the holding device 21 (3A: clips, 3B: corner casts, 3C: elastic bands in combination with slits or grooves 28 located in the cover plate and the resting plate).

FIG. 4 is a cutaway side view of an exemplary object-holding assembly 20 and illustrates an embodiment in which spacers 27 are used between the resting plate 12 and the cover plate 11 to accommodate a substantially three-dimensional display object 16.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are cutaway side views of the object-holding assembly 20 illustrating alternative embodiments of counter-attachment pieces 14. In FIG. 5A the counter-attachment pieces are partially embedded into the resting plate. In FIG. 5B the counter-attachment pieces are fully embedded into the resting plate.

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are cutaway side views of the object-holding assembly 20 and illustrate an embodiment, in which holding devices 21 are selected from magnets and ferromagnetic metal and are embedded into the resting plate 12 and the cover plate 11, respectively. In FIG. 6B, the resting plate 12 provides a flat opening into which the cover plate 11 is inserted, optionally retaining a display object 16 between the two plates.

FIG. 6C is a front-view of the resting plate and the cover plate, wherein the cover plate is inserted into the resting plate. The resting plate in FIG. 6C shows exemplary removal aids 34 (groove 34a or slit 34b).

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are cutaway side views of the base 30 illustrating embodiments of attachment pieces 15 (7A: attachment pieces are partially embedded into the support surface of the base; 7B: attachment pieces are fully embedded into the base).

FIG. 8 is a front view of the base 30 illustrating an embodiment, wherein a number of attachment pieces (4 shown) are positioned in the center area of the support surface 22 of the base.

FIG. 9 is a top/side view of the base 30 illustrating an embodiment, in which the base includes four side panels forming a box-shaped frame.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the display system 10 illustrating an embodiment of the base 30 in which the base includes supporting devices 31. The figure further illustrates an embodiment of the display system 10, in which the dimensions of the object-holding assembly 20 are smaller than the dimensions of the base 30, creating gaps 32 between the object-holding assembly 20 and the side panels 29 of the base.

Claims

1. A display system comprising: (a) a base having a rear surface and an opposing support surface;(b) an object-holding assembly including: (i) a cover plate;(ii) a resting plate having a support surface and an opposing rear surface; and(iii) one or more holding device for releasably attaching said cover plate to said resting plate; and(c) a fastener for releasably attaching said object-holding assembly to said base.

2. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a display object positioned between said resting plate and said cover plate.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein said fastener comprises an attachment piece and a counter-attachment piece, wherein said attachment piece releasably engages said counter-attachment piece.

4. The display system of claim 3, wherein said base further comprises said attachment piece.

5. The display system of claim 4, wherein said attachment piece is attached to said support surface of said base.

6. The display system of claim 3, wherein said holding device of said object-holding assembly comprises said counter-attachment piece.

7. The display system of claim 3, wherein said resting plate of said object-holding assembly further comprises said counter-attachment piece.

8. The display system of claim 7, wherein said counter-attachment piece is attached to said rear surface of said resting plate.

9. The display system of claim 3, wherein said attachment piece and said counter-attachment piece independently comprise a material selected from the group consisting of magnets, ferromagnetic material, parts of hook and loop fasteners, parts of snap fasteners, reversibly adhesive material, suction devices, holes, pins, hangers, bars, hooks, loops, string, wire and combinations thereof.

10. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a mounting device for mounting said base to a vertical or horizontal mounting surface.

11. The display system of claim 1, wherein said object-holding assembly further comprises a spacer between said cover plate and said resting plate.

12. The display system of claim 1, wherein said cover plate is essentially transparent.

13. The display system of claim 1, wherein said cover plate comprises a transparent portion.

14. The display system of claim 1, wherein said cover plate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metal, wood, glass, Plexiglas, plastics, vinyl, acrylics, polystyrene, polycarbonate, safety glass, woven materials, cardboard, multi-layered paper, plastic foil and combinations thereof.

15. The display system of claim 1, wherein said resting plate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of wood, metal, glass, Plexiglas, plastics, vinyl, acrylics, polystyrene, polycarbonate, safety glass, cardboard and combinations thereof.

16. The display system of claim 1, wherein at least one member selected from said resting plate and said cover plate further comprises one or more attachment aid to facilitate attachment of said holding device.

17. The display system of claim 16, wherein each of said attachment aid is a member independently selected from grooves, slits, holes and protrusions.

18. The display system of claim 1, wherein each of said holding device is a member independently selected from the group consisting of clips, clamps, pegs, clasps, elastic bands, strings, straps, rivet fasteners, pin fasteners, screws, latches, braces, hook and loop fasteners, elastic fasteners, hinges, corner casts, nuts and bolts, magnets and ferromagnetic material.

19. The display system of claim 18, wherein said clips are members independently selected from the group consisting of binder clips and spring clips.

20. The display system of claim 1, wherein said base comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of wood, corrosion-resistant metal, coated metal, plastics, Plexiglas, composites, vinyl, acrylics, polystyrene, polycarbonate, and combinations thereof.

21. The display system of claim 1, wherein said base comprises a side panel protruding in an angle from said support surface.

22. The display system of claim 21, wherein said base comprises four side panels forming a box-shaped frame.

23. The display system of claim 21, wherein said object-holding assembly rests on said side panel when said display system is in an upright position.

24. The display system of claim 1, wherein said base further comprises one or more supporting device for supporting the weight of said object-holding assembly when said display system is in an upright position.