Patent Application
20140007471
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved storage and display system which is customizable using interlocking modules and method of making it.
2. Background Art
Various methods and systems of providing interlocking modules have been proposed in the art. Some of these are systems are difficult or costly to manufacture and some of them require multiple parts for a single storage module.
Some of the prior art systems also involve an intricate and/or complex assembly mechanism, which makes the assembly more expense to manufacture and assemble.
Requiring multiple parts means that multiple parts must be separately manufactured and inventoried, then assembled in the proper order and location.
Some of the display systems of the past have limited ways that they can be arranged, limiting the flexibility of arrangement which is desirable if display modules are to be arranged to fit a space which differs in size and arrangement in different situations.
Accordingly, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the prior art systems and methods for providing interlocking display modules have undesirable limitations and disadvantages.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art systems for display of items such as collectibles by providing an interlocking module and method of making it which provides a simple, yet efficient, system of interlocking modules to form a customizable display of such modules.
The modules of the present invention are easily and inexpensively fabricated. They are easy to orient and assemble into the desired shape and maintain their assigned location within a display by resisting accidental disassembly and disconnection. The modules are nevertheless easy to disassemble when desired and stored or shipped in a disassembled arrangement or reconfigured to fit a different space arrangement when desired.
The present invention provides for several useful, but optional, additional features. For example, the display modules can have a mounting pedestal formed on an inside lower surface for the purpose of locating a displayed collectible in a fixed location. A backdrop or rear member may be easily inserted into the display module, if desired, allowing for scenery or a mirror to provide additional ambiance for the display. A transparent front covering could be added to the display module as well, if desired.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains.
The back side of the module 10 is shown in
Manufacturing of this module may be accomplished using one of a variety of known techniques and one of a variety of materials. It is thought that injection molding of plastic, particularly ABS plastic, is the most effective and efficient way to form the module, but other materials (such as other plastic, metals, alloys and similar materials) could be used to advantage if desired. Plastic can be injection molded as a single piece, although another version of the present invention could also be practiced with the module comprising more than one piece, for instance, a separate back member or interlocking pieces to form a single module 10. The use of plastics allows the advantage of making the mounting pedestal 12a and slot 12b in a single molding operation and in the form of a single piece, if desired, a process which can reduce the manufacturing cost and the number of steps in the manufacturing process.
The size of a typical module is chosen based on the size of the articles to be displayed. In one configuration of this invention, the size has been chosen to be approximately 4 inches tall, three inches wide and three inches deep, based on the item (in this case, a collectible) fitting comfortably within the aperture. If the items being displayed are generally larger than that, a larger size can be chosen, but if it is desired to display a small number of larger items with many smaller items, the few larger items can be accommodated by simply leaving a larger gap between modules.
The module 10 of the present invention may be enhanced by providing a backdrop in the back of the module, if desired. For example, scenery (for example, war scenes and/or equipment) or other suitable pictures can be mounted on a stock slightly smaller than the size of the back of the module and either positioned in place or secured there with temporary or permanent adhesive. In place of a pictoral backdrop, a mirror could be used to advantage in some displays to better show the back of the item being displayed, and again, the mirror could be merely positioned in the module or secured in place to restrict its motion. The present invention also could have a transparent front surface placed over the front of the module, if desired, to provide a way of captivating the things placed therein (such as the action figures and coins) from inadvertent loss or to secure them from removal by an unauthorized person.
The dovetail projection will be formed to a specific dimension and tolerance, and the dovetail recess will be formed slightly larger to permit the modules to easily interfit, but not so large as to allow for the modules to move a lot with respect to one another. The modules can be provided with auxiliary features, such as securing detents, limiting devices and bumpers, as desired to make for a more secure and/or easier assembly.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with some specificity for the sake of illustration, although the invention is not limited to the exact configuration or method s disclosed, as one of ordinary skill in the art will understand the invention from the teachings herein and recognize that many alterations and deviations are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it will be understood that the description of the preferred embodiments has been provided to illustrate the present invention and not to limit it. The man of ordinary skill in the art will also recognize that some of the features of the present invention can be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other features. For example, the dovetail projection and complementary dovetail recess described in the present description is a convenient way to connect two modules, but other suitable connections can be substituted, if desired. The mounting pedestal is an optional feature and not required for the use of customizable modules of the present invention. The ABS plastic material is an easy to mold plastic material, but other materials could be used to advantage in the present invention. Further, the present invention is capable of being extended, for example, to having a transparent covering provided over the front surface of the module on any, some or all of the modules, if desired. The backdrop has also been described as optional, if scenery or a mirror is desired to better display the collectible or other object contained in the module. Finally, the configuration shown in
The material of the module also has been described as plastic in its preferred embodiment, although that material is not required, as other materials could be used to advantage, perhaps with changes in the manufacturing process. Other materials which could be molded include metals and alloys, cement or concrete and other mixtures of materials in a resin base. It is also thought that ceramics or paper mache might be used to advantage in some forms of the present invention, although one would have to consider the costs involved with the manufacturing process and the life of the resulting material. It is also possible to use wood in the present invention, although that might require milling processes to form the interfitting connections between modules.
