Patent Application
20220167759
The invention relates to a device for clear storage of jewellery or a board which is configured as a jewellery board for arranging and storing items of jewellery such as bracelets and necklaces, decorative bands, rings and the like.
DE 20 2011 005 126 U1 relates to a surface element consisting of a receiving device for items of daily use, in particular for (jewellery) items configured differently to one another, comprising undercut or hook elements for this items, wherein said device including all undercut and hook elements is formed from a single surface element into which various material cutouts are introduced. The surface element makes a very technical impression and therefore used or unused does not afford any absolutely appealing view. In addition, it cannot be used very flexibly since specific receiving devices are only suitable for specific jewellery items.
DE 10 2012 102 805 A1 describes a jewellery board for storing a plurality of different items of jewellery. In order that the items of jewellery can be stored in a clear arrangement for home use so that a removal during use and re-storage after use do not require any expensive search work, the invention provides that the jewellery board is configured as a board and is fastened to a vertical wall, preferably the inside of a cupboard door and that at least one horizontal row of hooks for suspending chains and similar items of jewellery and at least one horizontally arranged receiving container which is open at the top are attached on the exposed side of the board wherein at least two juxtaposed foam blocks are introduced into the receiving container between which rings, earrings and similar items of jewellery can be inserted. Manufacture of the jewellery board proves to be comparatively complex and therefore relatively expensive.
It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a convenient-to-use device for clear storage of jewellery which affords an aesthetically pleasing design and which can be manufactured cost-effectively.
This object is achieved with a board of the type mentioned initially whereby it is provided with a number of cutouts which penetrate through the board with retaining means arranged therein for detachable fastening of the respective items of jewellery to the board, wherein a pin-like projection which projects upwards into the cutout in the lower region of each cutout is configured as retaining means and the board has a rear-side spacer for maintaining a free space on a rear side of the board at least in the region of the cutouts.
The board configured as a jewellery board or its plane of extension can be positioned largely vertically for its use as intended, for example, suspended on a wall or placed largely upright in order that the items of jewellery can be arranged next to one another and above one another on the board. The largely vertical alignment of the board plane gives the items of jewellery, in particular chains, bands and the like a matching alignment under the action of gravity without assistance of the user.
Each cutout can be assigned precisely one retaining means. A plurality of cutouts then makes it possible to receive a number of items of jewellery on the board which are the same size or approximately the same size. Thus, the number of cutouts can determine the receiving capacity of the board as a storage device for items of jewellery. Alternatively a cutout can provide a plurality of retaining means. A 1:1 assignment of retaining means and cutouts is therefore not compulsory so that not the number of cutouts but the number of retaining means can define the capacity of the board. A high receiving capacity can then also be achieved with one, two or few cutouts or a plurality of cutouts. If a cutout contains a plurality of retaining means, the cutout is then usually configured to be horizontal in format or with a greater extension in the transverse direction than in the vertical direction in the plane of the board and usually receives the plurality of retaining means next to one another. In the following however, for the sake of simplicity, an assignment of precisely one retaining means to precisely one cutout is usually assumed even if other assignments are not intended to be excluded thereby.
The configuration of the cutouts as openings in the board makes not only the front side usable for the user for storage but in particular also, albeit to a lesser extent, the rear side of the board which is concealed per se. This is because conventional hook boards such as are known, for example, from the above DE 10 2012 102 805 A1 or boards with receiving pockets such as the subject matter of US 2013 0026 119 A1 only utilize the potential of a board as storage site on one side without using the material thickness of the board itself and its rear side. In addition, the configuration of the cutouts as openings makes them relatively easy to manufacture by drilling, milling, laser cutting or the like depending on the material of the board but does not exclude other possibilities for manufacture such as, for example, mould casting.
In each case at least one retaining means for detachable fastening of at least one item of jewellery on the board is arranged in each of the cutouts. Thus, each cutout affords one fastening possibility in each case. In this case, one cutout is not necessarily assigned to precisely one item of jewellery for storage on the board. For example, a plurality of rings in one cutout or a chain in several cutouts can be fastened detachably on one retaining means.
According to the invention, a pin-like projection projecting upwards into the cutout is configured as retaining means in the lower region of each cutout. The lower region of the cutout can be defined by reference to the alignment of the board as that region of the cutout which lies closest to a lower edge of the board, for example, its contact surface. From that lower region, in particular from a lower edge of the cutout, the pin-like projection projects upwards, namely contrary to the force of gravity without protruding from the board. Expediently it extends in the plane of extension of the board.
A projection which is configured as a frequently cylindrical or rectangular continuation of a component which serves to connect the component to another component is to be understood as pin-like. In the present case, the projection connects the board to an item of jewellery and specifically using the action of gravity on the item of jewellery. Gravity ensures that the item of jewellery, once suspended, remains on the erected projection. The projection and optionally the cutout additionally prevent an undesired lateral displacement of the item of jewellery. The invention uses the finding that merely a simple pin-like projection is required in order to store quite different types of objects or items of jewellery such as rings, chains, bands and the like on the board.
The board according to the invention additionally has at least one spacer for maintaining a free space on a rear side of the board at least in the region of the cutouts. Said spacer is usually arranged at the back and can be configured in a punctuate manner, for example, as a single pin or linearly, for example, as a strip. In each case, the spacer creates an operating space which makes it easier for a user to bring an item of jewellery in sections onto the projection or when viewed from the user, behind the projection. The invention specifically starts from the finding that a convenient fastening of an item of jewellery on the board is achieved whereby the projection is also accessible on its rear side at least in a depth corresponding to the width of the item of jewellery to be fastened. The spacer specifically prevents an item of jewellery not being placed on the projection when a wall surface located behind abuts directly against the rear side of the board or against a projection. The spacer therefore merely facilitates or enables the successful and convenient fastening of an item of jewellery on the board.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the board or its plane of extension can have an inclination with respect to the perpendicular in the vertical direction. The inclination can fundamentally point in both directions so that a user side of the board when viewed in a direction from its underside to its upper side can be inclined towards the user or away from the user. The inclination can on the one hand ensure the spacing explained above from a wall surface or the like when the board is suspended. This is because even if said board rests with a lower edge on the wall surface, a sufficient spacing can remain in the region of the cutouts when the cutouts maintain a suitable spacing from the lower edge. The spacing from the lower edge is obtained in any case for constructive or visual reasons. On the other hand, the inclination can ensure a defined position of the items of jewellery on the board or on its user side, namely on the side of the board facing the user. In the case of an inclination of an upper side of the board towards the user, in particular suspended chains or bands can maintain a distance from the user side of the board with the result that on the one hand, they hang straight downwards due to gravity without resting on other items of jewellery even when these items overlap them when seen in one viewing direction. Thus, the arrangement in particular of elongated items of jewellery such as chains or bands acquires an aligned formation which leaves a visually more pleasant, namely orderly impression. An inclination in the opposite direction, namely in an upper region of the board inclined away from the user on the other hand can ensure that suspended elongated items of jewellery usually maintain their position once selected and do not unintentionally lose it due to gusts of wind or the like because they can rest on the user side of the board. In addition, with this inclination an illumination of the items of jewellery, for example, for presentation purposes can be more favourable because the items of jewellery cannot shade themselves in any case when an illumination is usually incident from an upper side.
In order to maintain the inclination, the board has an inclining device. As such, a suspendable board can have a rear-side spacer already mentioned above which however supports only the upper or only the lower edge of the board on a wall surface at a distance. With a spacer attached to the upper side, the board can be fastened to a wall surface, a door or the like with a distance at the top. If there is no lower-side spacer, the board then has an inclination directed in a direction upwards towards the user. An oppositely directed inclination of the board can then be achieved with an upper-side fastening and a lower spacer on the board. The only upper-side or only lower-side spacer then forms the aforesaid inclining device.
A board which can usually be set up with its lower edge can maintain its inclination through a suitable support between the contact surface of its lower edge and its upper region. In a simple embodiment the inclining device of an erectable board can consist of a rod which is fastened in an upper region of the board, for example, by inserting into a blind hole at an angle with respect to the plane of extension of the board and which can be placed with the lower edge of the board on the same. In the case of a very steep angle of inclination of the board close to the perpendicular, at least one rod in a lower region of the board can be fastened in the board at an angle close to or precisely at right angles. The inclination of the board is obtained in a direction when viewed from bottom to top towards the user on that side of the board on which the support is arranged. The support then at the same time forms the inclining device. Alternatively the inclination of the board can also be achieved whereby it is clamped with its lower edge in a base inclined in one or the other direction of inclination.
In particular, an upper-side spacer can furthermore and advantageously be combined functionally with a suitable suspension device so that only a single device is required to achieve a spacing on the one hand and for suspension of the board on a wall surface on the other hand. Fundamentally the board can have openings for suspension on screws, screw hooks, nails, cable devices or the like. Advantageously in an upper region the board can have fastening means configured integrally therewith such as, for example, space-forming suspension hooks or such a suspension strip. A suspension strip as a linear suspension device can protrude from the board on the rear side like a flange and at the same time as a plurality of fastening possibilities can define an upper-side spacing of the board.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the board can have respectively one angular strip on an upper and a lower edge which protrude on different sides, namely opposite to the plane of extension of the board. At the upper edge the angular strip attached to the board on the rear side can be a spacer, also an inclining device if there is no lower spacer and at the same time a suspension device; the lower angular strip which faces the user can be a support for rings, earrings etc. Despite their configuration being preferably the same, the angular strips thus fulfil a different purpose. With an identical configuration they give the board a calm and pleasing side view.
The cutouts can fundamentally be placed in an arbitrary arrangement on the board. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cutouts can be arranged in horizontal and/or vertical rows above and/or next to one another. In addition to an optimized surface usage of the board, a pleasing “orderly” appearance can be obtained.
The cutouts can basically have a border in any outline shape. Usually they have a rectangular or square shape but can for example also be hexagonal and therefore, for example, form a honeycomb pattern on the board, they can be configured to be octagonal or even diamond-shaped, for example, in order to thus produce a regional reference. Preferably the cutouts can have a substantially circular border, i.e. a circular edge. Thus, a pleasing design can be achieved with each board shape, i.e. regardless of whether the board itself is rectangular, square, irregularly angular or round, oval or circular.
As long as the cutouts and the retaining means arranged therein are configured according to the same principle and therefore enable easy handling, they can have almost arbitrary outline shapes within a board. Preferably however the cutouts together with retaining means of a board can be configured to be of the same type and in particular identical. Cutouts of the same type and their retaining means certainly have the same shape and mutually corresponding proportions but have different dimensions. Thus, one cutout can be a reduction in size or enlargement of the adjacent cutout. The different-sized cutouts and retaining means can then be arranged on the board sorted, for example, according to size so that for example, the larger cutouts are arranged on the outside and the smaller ones on the inside. The cutouts and their retaining means are identical if they have the same dimensions in addition to the same shape and identical proportions. Their arrangement can produce a uniform “calm” design of the board which when not in use or unused regions thereof act as a decorative pattern. In addition, they can offer easier manufacture.
In particular the retaining means themselves serve for detachable fastening of an item of jewellery on the board. They can be specially adapted for this purpose and inserted in the cutout. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the board can have retaining means configured integrally with the board. In particular, when producing the retaining means in a joint process step together with the cutouts, they can thus be produced particularly cost-effectively. Thus, the retaining means can be worked out from the board material itself, for example, by cutting out, sawing or laser cutting. An integral configuration of the retaining means can furthermore be achieved for example also by mould casting. In addition to the simple and cost-effective manufacture, despite the large number of retaining means the board affords a particularly simple impression because of the lack of component edges between the retaining means on the one hand and the board on the other hand.
As explained above, the spacer provides for a good rear-side accessibility of the retaining means so that an item of jewellery can be placed thereon conveniently and successfully. On the other hand, the retaining means must hold the items of jewellery reliably on the board. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the board can therefore have a T-shaped pin-shaped projection as retaining means. The T-shaped retaining means can therefore offer a better hold for bulky items of jewellery, for example, large rings or stiffer leather bands. The T-shaped retaining means can fundamentally be configured like a nail with a head projecting over its shaft. Preferably however it lies completely within the plane of the board because the T-shaped retaining means can then be manufactured more easily.
Alternatively or additionally the retaining means can have a notch or recess incorporated on the rear side, in particular a horizontal groove. This can be produced easily, does not impair the user-side appearance of the board and nevertheless gives the items of jewellery a better hold.
The cutouts in the board inter alia have the purpose of opening an operating space around the retaining means for placement or pushing on of an item of jewellery. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a viewing surface of the retaining means can therefore occupy a maximum of a quarter or a fifth of the area of the cutout to be assumed without retaining means. The area of the cutout to be assumed without retaining means is that area which the cutout would occupy according to its basic shape without arrangement of the retaining means, i.e. an in this respect “undisturbed”, for example, square, rectangular, diamond-shaped, oval, circular or other area. With a fraction of the retaining means of a quarter or a fifth of the area of the cutout, a sufficient operating space is ensured around the retaining means which allows a convenient and at all times successful fastening of an item of jewellery to the board. As long as the retaining means can reliably fulfil its function, the area occupied by the retaining means inside the cutout can naturally also be smaller. Tests have shown that even ratios of 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, 1/15 as far as a ratio of 1/19 can be suitable, in each case depending on the basic shape of the cutout.
In addition to the area ratio that the area of the cutout to be assumed without retaining means on the one hand and the area of the retaining means on the other hand can adopt with respect to one another in a viewing surface of the board, the amount by which the retaining means projects into the cutout can also influence the convenience and the success of the handling. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pin-shaped retaining means therefore extend from a lower edge of the cutout as far as at most two thirds of the height thereof. Even with these dimensions of cutout and retaining means, a convenient handling, namely a simple placement and removal of the item of jewellery can be achieved. With an extension of the retaining means up to about half the height of the cutout, a harmonious design of cutout and retaining means can also be achieved.
If there should be delicate items of jewellery which cannot be suspended on the pin-shaped retaining means, a further advantageous embodiment of the invention can comprise at least one separately configured suspension aid for jewellery which can be placed on a retaining means which comprises a ring portion for placement on the retaining means and a hook portion for suspending the jewellery. The delicate item of jewellery can thus be fastened indirectly on the board. For this purpose, the suspension aid is initially fastened to the board by placing it, like a piece of jewellery, with its ring portion onto the retaining means. For this purpose the ring portion does not need to comprise a geometrically closed ring but merely needs to be configured to be suspended on the retaining means. For this purpose, it can, for example, also be designed to be U-shaped and have respectively one hook portion at the free ends of the U legs. After placing the suspension aid on the retaining means, the piece of jewellery can then be fastened on the hook portion of the suspension aid.
According to a further advantageous configuration of the invention, the board can be configured to serve as a suspension device for textiles such as, for example, for tea towels or hand towels or for items of clothing such as jackets, coats, trousers or skirts. With fundamentally the same structure of the cutouts and the retaining means attached therein, a usually larger space requirement for handling thereof needs to be taken into account when dimensioning these. This is because hanging loops in particular of coats or heavy jackets are frequently thicker than delicate items of jewellery. Also the fingers of the male user's hands which are then relevant in any case can require a large space requirement than the usually more slender fingers of female jewellery wearers. The dimensioning of the retaining means should then be adapted to the usually higher loading by textiles.
As a hanging device, the board can be attached like a conventional cloakroom device to a largely perpendicular wall or to a door and extend predominantly horizontally. Said board can have one or a few rows with cutouts arranged above one another, next to one another which can preferably be arranged offset to one another in the transverse direction. The board can also have only one or a few cutouts next to one another which however each offer several retaining means.
The principle of the invention will be explained in further detail in the following with reference to a drawing as an example. In the drawing:
The first flange 12 and the second flange 14 run substantially parallel to one another. They do not protrude perpendicularly but at an angle of somewhat less than 90° and in the opposite directions from the board 10. The first flange 12 has a usually rectangular cross-section with a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the board 10 and on its underside has blind holes not shown as fastening aids into which for example, screw hooks can engage which are screwed onto a wall not shown for fastening the jewellery board. In addition the first flange 12 provides for a spacing A, which decreases towards the bottom, of a board rear side 18 from a wall located therebehind as soon as the jewellery board 1 was suspended as intended.
The second flange 14 is dimensioned to be thicker than the board 10 and has a V-shaped groove 20 on the upper side for placing small items of jewellery. On the rear side 18 of the board 10 said flange is continued in a flat strip 22 which ensures a minimal spacing a with respect to a vertical wall even at the lowest row R. Instead, the board 10 could also be configured to be extended downwards in one direction in order to bring about the same spacing a there.
The first flange 12 constitutes both a fastening means and also, combined with the second flange 14, an inclining device of the jewellery board 1 because the jewellery board 1 can only be suspended in an inclined manner at a vertical wall. It can thus only be suspended in a direction inclined upwards towards the user. Longer items of jewellery such as necklaces or decorative bands, optionally with pendants, which are fastened to the jewellery board 1, thus also obtain a spacing from the jewellery board 1 which increases in a direction downwards. Thus, longer items of jewellery do not rest on the jewellery board 1 and on the other items of jewellery fastened thereunder in the rows R with the result that a mutual entangling is eliminated. The jewellery board 1 consequently offers not only a clear and visually appealing possibility for storage for items of jewellery but also their convenient handling.
The jewellery board 1 can therefore be fastened to a largely perpendicular wall at the first flange 12. As a result of its greater spacing A in the region of the first flange 12 and its smaller spacing a in the region of the second flange 14, the rear side 18 maintains a spacing from the wall over the entire area of the board 10 and does not rest on the wall. Thus, the pins 26 also remain accessible on a rear side insofar as items of jewellery can be placed over them and on the rear side resting against them free from hindrance onto the pins 26.
The radius r of the openings 16 is dimensioned so that two fingers of a user's hand, usually the thumb and the index finger, can conveniently place an item of jewellery onto the pin 26 and remove it again. The height H of the pin also plays a role for the convenience. The height H is dependent on the radius r of the opening 16 insofar as a smaller radius r means a smaller opening 16 and therefore less space for the fingers for placement of an item of jewellery. In this respect a relatively smaller height H of the pin 26 is more favourable, i.e. a height H which, for example, only corresponds to two thirds of the radius r. In the case of larger openings 16 on the other hand, the height H can correspond to the radius r or to about four thirds of its size.
The jewellery board 2 can be operated largely identically to that of
With a suitable namely overall larger dimensioning compared with the jewellery board 2, the device shown in
For this purpose, at least one visible surface 60 can be covered with velvet, for example, in order to give a higher-quality impression or a better contrast in particular on the lower opening-free region 58 to the presented items of jewellery.
Since the jewellery boards previously described in detail comprise exemplary embodiments, they can be modified in the usual manner by the person skilled in the art in wide scope without departing from the range of the invention. In particular, specific configurations of the openings and the outline shapes of the jewellery board can be accomplished in a different form to that described here. The arrangement of the openings can also be configured in a different form if this is necessary for reasons of space or design reasons. Furthermore the use of the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude the fact that the relevant features can be present several times or multiple times.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2019 108 615.9 | Apr 2019 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2020/056375 | 3/10/2020 | WO | 00 |
