Patent Application
20170208912
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to storage and display apparatuses and in particular to storage and display apparatuses adapted beneficially to varied types of jewelry.
The storage of items of jewelry while not in use has presented challenges in respect of organization and appearance. Items of jewelry such as necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings have varied storage requirements and have traditionally been stored in separate compartments of horizontally disposed jewelry boxes. Such jewelry boxes often fail to maintain the articles in discrete accessible condition and also, when closed, hide the jewelry from view.
Needs exist for improved and/or alternative apparatuses beneficially adapted to store and gracefully display varied types of jewelry. The present disclosure, in several aspects, is addressed to these needs.
In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a jewelry storage and display apparatus. The apparatus includes an assembly of a plurality of display modules, where the display modules are connected to one another. The apparatus includes a first display module for supporting necklaces, the first display module including a first module wall supporting a plurality of first module hooks for hanging necklaces. The apparatus also includes a second display module for supporting necklaces and earrings, the second display module including a cabinet having a back wall and at least a first front door configured to close over at least a portion of the cabinet. The second display module can include a plurality of support fixtures mounted on the back wall for supporting necklaces, and the first front door can defines a plurality of openings adapted to receive and support earring portions (e.g. posts or backings) for hanging the earrings from the door. In certain embodiments, the first front door includes a perforate sheet defining a plurality of thru-holes providing such openings. The apparatus also includes a third display module for supporting bracelets, the third display module having a third module wall and at least one bar fixture for receiving thereover a plurality of bracelets. The apparatus also includes a fourth display module for supporting rings, the fourth display module including a fourth module wall supporting at least one mount fixture, and at least one ring storage pendant connected to, and preferably removably hung from, the mount fixture, the ring storage pendant adapted to receive thereover a plurality of rings.
In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a jewelry storage and display apparatus that includes a cabinet having a back wall and at least a first front door configured to close over at least a portion of the cabinet. The apparatus further includes a plurality of support fixtures mounted on the back wall for supporting jewelry articles, and the first front door defines a plurality of openings adapted to receive earring portions (e.g. posts or backings) for hanging earrings from the door. The first front door can include a perforate sheet defining a plurality of openings adapted to receive the earring portions and/or a mesh material defining openings adapted to receive the earring portions.
In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for supporting jewelry rings, including a support wall supporting at least one and preferably a plurality of mount fixtures. The apparatus also includes at least one and preferably a plurality of ring storage pendants. The ring storage pendant(s) are connected to, and preferably removably suspended or hung from, the mount fixture(s), and the ring storage pendant(s) is/are sized and configured to receive thereover a plurality of jewelry rings in a stacked condition.
Additional embodiments as well as features and advantages thereof will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the descriptions herein.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to certain embodiments, including those illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same.
It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. As well, provided below in this Detailed Description are numerous features of a jewelry storage and display apparatus and modules therefor; each such described feature, alone or combined with other ones of the described features, is contemplated herein as being combinable with the features described above in the Summary and with the features described below in the Listing of Certain Embodiments, to provide additional disclosed embodiments herein.
As disclosed above, aspects of the present disclosure relate to jewelry storage and display apparatuses. The apparatuses can be modular and designed to be situated with rear panels of the modules in a vertically-extending orientation, such as a hanging orientation. The modules can connect to one another, desirably such that an uppermost module, when connected to a support structure such as a wall or door, is capable of supporting the weight of connected modules located below.
With reference now to
In the illustrated embodiment 20, the first module 22 includes an upstanding (e.g. vertical) module wall 30 having a front surface 30a, a back surface 30b, a first side surface 30c, and a second side surface 30d. A plurality of hangers 32 each having one or more hooks, desirably multiple hooks, are connected to and supported by module wall 30. The hook(s) of hangers 32 in preferred forms are configured to support necklaces, particularly larger necklaces, looped over the hook(s). While hangers 32 in the illustrated embodiment are shown as discrete elements, they could also be provided as a unitary piece attached to module wall 30 if desired. In preferred forms each hanger 32 includes an arm 36 extending outward and away from the front surface 30a of module wall 30, with the arm 36 supporting a plurality of hooks 38 depending downwardly therefrom and being spaced from one another in a direction extending away from module wall 30. In this manner necklaces hung on hooks 38 of a given multi-hook hanger 32 will be layered horizontally for storage. As well, where as illustrated the hooks of a multi-hook hanger arc vertically spaced from one another, the necklaces hung on the hooks 38 will be layered both horizontally and vertically relative to one another. In the illustrated embodiment the hooks 38 define forward-facing openings through which a segment of a necklace can be passed to loop the necklace, while remaining in a closed-loop condition, over the hooks 38 during movement of the necklace from the front of and toward the module wall 30; however, in other embodiments the hooks can include rearward-facing openings through which a segment of the necklace can be passed to loop the necklace, while remaining in a closed-loop condition, over the hooks during movement of the necklace outward and away from front surface 30a of module wall 30 from a position between the hook and the module wall. In still other embodiments, the hooks can be closable loops or clasps, and can be closed around the necklace while it remains in the closed-loop condition; or, the hooks can be closed loops and the necklace can be opened to a linear (not closed-looped) condition, threaded through the loop hook, and re-closed to suspend the necklace from the loop hook. These and other variations for the hooks will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the descriptions herein.
The second module 24 includes an upstanding (e.g. vertical) module wall 58 that is connected to and preferably suspended from first module 22. Module wall 58 includes a front surface 58a, a rear surface 58b, and lateral side surfaces 58c and 58d. The second module 24 has at least one front door that together with at least module wall 58 forms a cabinet structure. As illustrated, preferably the module 22 includes a first front door 40a and a second front door 40b, although more than two doors could also be included. Doors 40a and 40b are hingedly connected to door brackets 42 and 44, respectively, which can also provide partial or complete sidewalls to the cabinet structure depending on design. The brackets 42 and 44 are in turn connected to module wall 58. Doors 40a and 40b are suspended in a spaced condition from the front surface 58a of module wall 58 and can be opened in a swinging motion outwardly from front surface 58a.
Second module 24 also includes an upper tray 50 positioned above doors 40a and 40b, for example supported in part or wholly by brackets 42 and 44. Tray 50 can for example be supported by and potentially connected to the upper surface of brackets 42 and 44 (see e.g.
Doors 40a and 40b also preferably include a plurality of thru-holes 56 in panel portions of the doors and in especially preferred embodiments in close proximity (e.g. within about 3 cm, or within about 2 cm, or within about 1 cm) to a free edge, preferably a bottom free edge, of the panel portions. Through holes 56 can receive the studs or backings of a variety of types earrings (e.g. fish hook wires, friction backs, latch backs, lever backs or French backs) to be suspended from doors 40a and 40b, and when in close proximity to a free edge of a door panel portion as discussed above can provide beneficial hanging and removal access to a wider variety of earring styles. For example, some earrings have a curved loop or hoop shape that would not effectively or attractively thread through and be supported by holes 56 if those holes were centrally located in a door panel portion as opposed to being in close proximity to a free edge as discussed above. With the holes 56 in close proximity to the free edge, a clearance is provided beyond the free edge both for a rotating threading action to thread the curved loop or hoop earring portion through the hole. As well, downwardly-depending portions of the hole-supported earrings can be suspended within that clearance beyond the panel portion free edge, especially where the free edge is a bottom free edge of a panel portion. The curved and especially multi-directional curved bottom free edge of the doors 40a and 40b provides additional length along which thru-holes can be located to improve the storage capacity of second module 24.
Third module 26 has an upstanding (e.g. vertical) module wall 60 that is connected to and preferably suspended from module wall 58 of second module 24. Module wall 60 has front and rear surfaces 60a and 60b respectively and lateral side surfaces 60c and 60d. Third module 26 is adapted for bracelet storage and includes at least one storage and display bar for receiving and supporting bracelets or other similar partial loop items of jewelry, and preferably two or more such storage and display bars. In preferred forms the storage bar(s) are mounted with their long axis extending in a non-vertical (e.g. substantially horizontal) direction and/or define a curved outer surface over which the partial loop of the bracelet(s) or similar items can be received, e.g. by slipping the item(s) onto the bar(s) from the side and/or by resilient flexion or a hinged motion of the item(s) that temporarily enlarges the opening of their loop to allow them to be advanced onto the bar(s) from the front. The storage bar(s) can be generally straight or can be curved. In the illustrated embodiment two storage and display bars 62 and 64 are provided. Bars 62 and 64 and/or other bar(s) of third module 26 can be provided by cylinders as illustrated and provided as such or otherwise the bar(s) are preferably generally ovate in cross section, although other cross sectional shapes such as circles and/or polygons can be used in other embodiments. When ovate or other cross-sectional shapes are used that have a first axis that is longer than a second axis, as illustrated for bars 62 and 64, the longer first axis is desirably positioned at an acute (less than 90 degrees) angle relative to the front surface 58a of module wall 58 with the longer first axis extending away from front surface 58a when considered in a direction from upward to downward.
Storage and display bar 62 also defines a first stop member 68 and a second stop member 70 extending outward from adjacent surfaces of the bar 62, and bar 64 similarly includes third stop member 72 and fourth stop member 74 extending outward from adjacent surfaces of the bar 64. These stop members 68,70,72,74 are constructed and arranged to frictionally impede lateral sliding of bracelet(s) or other similar partial loop items of jewelry to resist their sliding off of ends of bars 62 and 64. For these purposes it is desirable to have at least two stop members per bar and to position a first of them proximate to a first end of the bar and a second of them proximate to a second end of the bar. It will also be understood that more than two stop members could be provided along the length of the bar, for example to segment the bar into multiple storage areas occurring between the stop members, with each storage area designed to receive one or more bracelets or similar partial loop items. In the illustrated embodiment stop members 68,70,72,74 are provided by outwardly projecting structures attached to the bars 62 and 64 and generally defining spherical segments, for example provided by rivets attached to bars 62 and 64 and having rounded heads serving as stop members; however, it will be understood that other stop member structures could also be used, including for example lips, nibs or other structures projecting from adjacent surfaces of the bars.
Storage and display apparatus 20 also includes a fourth module 28. Fourth module has an upstanding (e.g. vertical) module wall 80 connected to and preferably suspended from module wall 60 of third module 26. Module wall 80 has front and back surfaces 80a and 80b and first and second lateral surfaces 80c and 80d. Module 28 is constructed and arranged for beneficial storage of jewelry rings or other similar partially or completely closed loop jewelry items. For these purposes module 28 includes mount fixtures 82, 84 and 86 mounted to wall 80 at spaced positions from one another. Fixtures 82,84,86 each include a respective outwardly extending wall 82a,84a,86a extending transverse (preferably generally perpendicular to) front surface 80a of module wall 80, and a respective mount wall 82b,84b,86b connected to module wall and preferably extending generally parallel to front surface 80a. Module 28 also includes a plurality of storage pendants 88 removably supported by and suspended from outwardly extending walls 82a,84a,86a. For these purposes, in the illustrated embodiment, outwardly extending walls 82a,84a,86a each define a plurality of slots (see e.g.
While in the illustrated embodiment the pendants 88 arc removably supported in slots of the fixtures, other ways to support (preferably removably support) and suspend the pendants are also contemplated within embodiments herein. These may include for example other arrangements in which a structure of a pendant overlaps a structure of a fixture (e.g. a tongue in groove arrangement where the tongue can occur on the pendant and the groove on the fixture, or vice versa), magnetic force (e.g. where one of the pendant or the fixture is made of or includes a magnetic material and the other is made of or includes a ferrous metal, or where both are made of or include a magnetic material), a detent clip or other clip arrangement, or any other suitable structure or mechanism for suspending the pendant from the fixture, preferably removably. Also, while in the illustrated embodiment each fixture supports and suspends multiple pendants, in other forms each pendant can be supported from its own fixture. These and other variations will be apparent to those skilled in the pertinent art from the descriptions herein.
With reference especially to
With reference now to
While
As well, as illustrated in
While in the illustrated embodiment the downwardly facing surface 88f is a conical surface, it will be understood that other surfaces that decrease in cross-sectional dimension in the downward direction can be used within embodiments herein, including for example wedge, pyramidal, tetrahedral, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shapes, or segments or truncated portions thereof. Similarly, it will be understood that other such surfaces that increase in cross-sectional dimension in the downward direction, including for example those shapes specifically listed above, can be used in place of a conical surface for surface 82g.
Reference will now be made to
Module 24 also includes a plurality of jewelry support members mounted to module wall 58 and positioned to reside behind doors 40a and 40b when in a closed position. In the illustrated embodiment a plurality of multi-hook units 90, each defining a plurality of hooks, are mounted to module wall 58. In preferred forms as illustrated the hooks of each unit 90 include hooks extending at differing angles relative to the front surface 58a of module wall 58. For example as illustrated, first, outer hook(s) of a given unit 90 can extend generally parallel to front surface 58a, second hook(s) immediately adjacent thereto can extend transverse to the front surface 58a preferably with its/their wall 58-facing surface(s) defining a first acute angle relative to the front surface 58a, and optionally also third hook(s) can be provided immediately adjacent to the second hook(s) and can extend perpendicular to the front surface, or transverse to the front surface 58a with its/their wall 58-facing surface(s) defining a second angle greater than the first acute angle. Hook units 90 are preferably beneficially adapted to support and store jewelry items such as necklace pendants, lockets or slides in a hanging condition.
Also mounted to module wall 58 of second module 24 is a multi-prong unit 92. Unit 92 includes a plurality of outwardly extending prongs adapted for hanging necklace chains (e.g. onto which a user can thread selected pendants or lockets retrieved from multi-hook units 90) or other similar flexible linear or looped items of jewelry. In the illustrated embodiment each prong of unit 92 is provided by a generally flat wall having a straight portion extending away from module wall 58, e.g. perpendicular to front surface 58a of module wall 58, and an upturned segment adjacent to and outward from the generally straight segment. Unit 92 is mounted to module wall 58 to provide the prongs in an upper portion thereof, e.g. in the uppermost 20% of the height of module wall 58, to allow space below to hang chains or other similar items. Other locations can however be used in other embodiments. As well, in the illustrated unit 92 the prongs are positioned in a generally co-planar relationship with one another. It will be understood, however, that other prong orientations relative to one another, and shapes, are contemplated.
A necklace arch member 94 is also mounted to module wall 58. Necklace arch member 94 defines a convexly curved upper surface, for supporting necklaces thereon, particularly necklaces that are of a construction whereby they are self-retained in an arched or curved shape (e.g. stiff rope, choker, collar or omega style necklaces). Necklace arch member 94 can also include one or more stop members extending outward from adjacent portions of the upper surface of member 94, and in the illustrated embodiment includes two such stop members 96 and 98. These stop members are constructed and arranged to frictionally impede outward (away from wall 58) sliding of necklaces or other similar loop items of jewelry to resist their sliding off of the outer edges of member 94. For these purposes it is desirable to position the stop member(s) proximate to the outermost edge of member 94 as illustrated. It will also be understood that more than two stop members could be provided along the member 94. In the illustrated embodiment stop members 96 and 98 are provided by outwardly projecting structures attached to the upper surface of member and generally defining spherical segments, for example provided by rivets attached to member 94 and having rounded heads serving as stop members; however, it will be understood that other stop member structures could also be used, including for example lips, nibs or other structures projecting from adjacent portions of the upper surface of member 94. Also, while in the depicted embodiment the arch member 94 is provided by a curved wall circumscribing an angle of less than 360 degrees, other structures providing a curved or arched upper surface could also be used including solid pieces, a completely closed loop formed by a curved wall, and others.
Also mounted to module wall 58 of second module 24 is a storage support fixture 100. Support fixture 100 includes a frame extending away from wall 58 and defining an opening 102. Positioned outward of opening 102 is storage arm 104 defining a plurality of apertures 106. Apertures 106 are beneficially adapted for receiving the backings of pierced style earrings to suspend, store and display the earrings on support 100. The rearward portions of such earring backings occurring behind storage arm 104 during storage will thereby be received within the clearance provided by opening 102. While support fixture 100 as shown provides storage arm 104 with apertures spaced from module wall 58 and having a clearance therebehind, other structures providing these features can also be used in embodiments herein.
With reference now to
The elements of the apparatuses disclosed herein can be made from any suitable material or combinations of material, including as examples metal, plastic, wood, ceramic and/or other materials. All connections or attachments can be made using any of a variety of known methods or mechanism including connectors such as screws, bolts, nails or rivets and/or bonding such as by glues, welding or other techniques. The skilled person will likewise recognize that combinations of elements disclosed herein can be made as unitary pieces by fabrication methods such as machining and/or stamping and/or by molding or other known techniques. Surface finishing techniques can also be used to contribute to the appearance or performance of the elements of the apparatuses herein, including for example polishing, painting (e.g. by powder coating) or other techniques.
As disclosed above, in certain embodiments herein two, three or four modules as disclosed herein can be combined to provide an overall apparatus. For these purposes the modules can be connected to one another, for example, by connectors such as bolts/nuts that connect the module walls of the various modules. As an example, the separate module walls can have rearward-facing lips that can be abutted to one another and bolts can be passed through the abutted lips and secured with nuts to connect the modules to one another. Other connecting arrangements could also be used to connect the module walls to one another, including for example tongue-in-groove arrangements between the separate module walls, or cooperating clips or clamps on the module walls that can be used to secure them to one another. These and other connecting arrangements can be used. In desired combined forms, the lower edge of one module wall will be abutting or in close proximity to the upper edge of another module positioned below, and these edges can be arranged generally parallel to one another in the combined arrangement.
Also, while discussions above describe an apparatus with the first, second, third and fourth modules combined, it is contemplated herein that each module also forms an independent embodiment herein. Such modules can for example be manufactured and sold separately, to allow users to either simply employ one of the modules, or to select which modules to obtain and potentially combine to form a combined apparatus as disclosed herein. As well, while discussions herein at some points focus on embodiments positioned in a vertical or otherwise upstanding position, the apparatuses disclosed herein could also be used in a horizontal position on a temporary or permanent basis if desired, and thus expressions herein such as “upward” or “downward” or variants thereof should be understood as disclosing a relative movement or positioning of elements with respect to one another as opposed to a requirement for vertical or horizontal movement with respect to the Earth's surface, unless context clearly dictates to the contrary.
The following provides an enumerated listing of some of the embodiments disclosed herein. It will be understood that this is a non-limiting listing of embodiments, and that other embodiments are disclosed in the discussions hereinabove.
1. A jewelry storage and display apparatus, comprising:
an assembly of a plurality of display modules, said display modules connected to one another and including,
a first display module for supporting necklaces, the first display module including a first module wall supporting a plurality of first module hooks for hanging necklaces;
a second display module for supporting necklaces and earrings, the second display module including a second module wall, the second display module providing a cabinet structure having a back wall and at least a first front door configured to close over at least a portion of the cabinet structure, the second display module including a plurality of support fixtures mounted on the second module wall for supporting necklaces, and wherein the first front door defines a plurality of openings adapted to receive and support earring portions;
a third display module for supporting bracelets, the third display module having a third module wall and at least one bar fixture for receiving thereover a plurality of bracelets; and
a fourth display module for supporting rings, the fourth display module including a fourth module wall supporting at least one mount fixture, and a ring storage pendant connected to the mount fixture, the ring storage pendant adapted to receive thereover a plurality of rings.
2. The apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the first front door has a door panel comprised at least in part of a perforate sheet having thru-holes providing said openings adapted to receive earring portions; preferably wherein the perforate sheet defines a lower perimeter region of the first door, and more preferably wherein the apparatus defines a clearance below the perforate sheet for receiving suspended earring portions.
3. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein at least some of the first module hooks are provided by at least one multi-hook hanger; preferably wherein the multi-hook hanger positions a series of hooks spaced from one another in a direction extending away from the first module wall.
4. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein the second display module also includes a second front door, the second front door; preferably wherein the second front door has a door panel comprised at least in part of a perforate sheet having thru-holes providing said openings adapted to receive earring portions; preferably wherein the perforate sheet defines a lower perimeter region of the second front door; and more preferably wherein the apparatus defines a clearance below the perforate sheet of the second front door for receiving suspended earring portions.
5. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein the bar fixture has an ovate cross-sectional shape.
6. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein the at least one mount fixture of the fourth display module includes a slot, and wherein the ring storage pendant includes a portion removably received in the slot.
7. A jewelry storage and display apparatus, comprising:
a cabinet having a back wall and at least a first front door configured to close over at least a portion of the cabinet;
a plurality of support fixtures mounted on the back wall for supporting jewelry articles; and
the first front door defining a plurality of openings adapted to receive and support earring portions; preferably wherein the first front door has a door panel comprised at least in part by a wire mesh defining a plurality of said openings and/or at least in part by a perforate sheet defining a plurality said openings.
8. The apparatus of embodiment 7, wherein the perforate sheet defines a lower perimeter region of the first front door, and wherein the apparatus defines a clearance below the perforate sheet for receiving suspended earring portions.
9. An apparatus for supporting jewelry rings, comprising:
a support wall supporting at least one mount fixture;
at least one ring storage pendant connected to the at least one mount fixture.
10. The apparatus of embodiment 9 including a plurality of mount fixtures each supporting a plurality of ring storage pendants; preferably wherein each ring storage pendant is removably suspended from one of said mount fixtures and each ring storage pendant is sized and configured to receive thereover a plurality of rings in a stacked condition.
11. An apparatus according to any preceding embodiment, also including a plurality of items of jewelry supported on the apparatus.
12. A method for storing items of jewelry comprising supporting the items of jewelry on an apparatus of any preceding embodiment.
The uses of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar references in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. In addition, all references cited herein are indicative of the level of skill in the art and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/020,353, filed Jul. 2, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62020353 | Jul 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/US2015/003894 | Jul 2015 | US |
| Child | 15397105 | US |
