DISPLAY SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20150208826A1
• Filed: 01/20/2015
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Schwalbach, Charles A., YANG, Sheng, HEIRAKUJI, Russell John Kaaihue, MARASCO, Carly Lynn
• Granted Patent: US 10,206,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/002 Devices for protection against sunlight or theft
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/004 adjustable, foldable or easily dismountable
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/0246 for rectangular articles, e.g. books, cassettes on the article itself E05B73/0023
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/00 Devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal; Miscellaneous locking devices motorcycle helmets A42B3/0413; supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening helmets B62J11/24; gun racks A47B81/005; showcases with theft protection A47F3/002; anti-theft means for peg-boards, grids or rods for hanging merchandise A47F5/0861; show stands, hangers, shelves with provision against unauthorised removal A47F7/024; for self-service hand-carts A47F10/04; locking skis A63C11/004; locking bolts, nuts or pins F16B41/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/021 for rotational movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/02 Mechanical actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18

Abstract

A display system and method for displaying a product is disclosed. The system may include a display stem and a retainer for holding the product. The retainer may include a bracket and a retainer body having a substantially smooth surface. The display stem may include a recess for receiving at least a portion of the retainer body. The retainer may be oriented on top of the display stem in one or more predetermined positions through the use of magnetic forces. The retainer may be returned to and held on top of the display stem using a retaining cable. The retainer body and recess may include charging contacts for delivering power to a product held by the retainer when the retainer body is received within the recess.

Claims

1. A display system for displaying a product, the system comprising:

a retainer for retaining the product, the retainer comprising;

a retainer body, wherein at least a portion of the retainer body defines a hemispherical shape; and

a bracket attached to the retainer body, the bracket comprising at least two bracket arms configured to extend around opposing sides of the product; and

a display stem defining a recess at a proximal end thereof, the recess shaped to receive the hemispherical portion of the retainer body.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the recess is hemispherical.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the recess is shaped to receive the entire hemispherical portion of the retainer body.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the retainer body is rotatable with respect to the display stem when the retainer body is received within the recess of the display stem.

5. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a retaining cable attached to the retainer body, wherein the retaining cable extends through an opening in the recess of the display stem.

7. The display system of claim 5, wherein the retaining cable is coupled to a retraction mechanism, the retraction mechanism configured to apply tension to the retaining cable to automatically retract the retaining cable, when the hemispherical portion of the retainer body is not in the recess of the display stem.

8. The display system of claim 7, wherein the retraction of the cable causes the hemispherical portion of the retainer body to enter the recess of the display stem.

9. The display system of claim 1, wherein a majority of the hemispherical portion of the retainer body conforms exactly to the shape of the recess of the display stem.

6. (canceled)

10. A display system for displaying a product, the system comprising:

a retainer for retaining the product, the retainer comprising;

a retainer body having at least one first magnet coupled thereto; and

a bracket attached to the retainer body, the bracket comprising at least two bracket arms configured to extend around opposing sides of the product; and

a display stem defining a recess at a proximal end thereof, the recess defining an opening and least one second magnet disposed adjacent to the opening,

wherein the at least one first magnet is configured to cause rotation of the retainer body to a predefined orientation when at least a portion of the retainer body is disposed within the recess of the display stem, if the retainer body is not in the predefined orientation, and

wherein the at least one first magnet is configured to cause the rotation by magnetic attraction to the at least one second magnet.

11. The display system of claim 10, further comprising a retaining cable attached to the retainer body, wherein the retaining cable extends through the opening in the recess of the display stern.

12. The display system of claim 11, wherein the at least one first magnet comprises a plurality of first magnets disposed radially about the retaining cable.

13. The display system of claim 11, wherein the at least one second magnet comprises a plurality of second magnets disposed radially about the opening.

16. The display system of claim 10, wherein the retainer has more than one predefined orientation with respect to the display stem.

17. The display system of claim 10, comprising at least two first magnets and at least two second magnets, wherein the at least two first magnets are disposed equidistant from each other about a center axis of the retainer body, and the at least two second magnets are disposed equidistant from each other about the opening in the recess.

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

18-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A retainer for retaining a product, the retainer comprising:

a retainer body having a peak area, a base area, and a substantially smooth curved outer surface; and

a bracket attached to the retainer body, the bracket comprising at least two bracket arms configured to retain the product with respect to the retainer,

wherein at least a portion of the substantially smooth curved outer surface has a continuously changing slope extending from the peak area to the base area.

23. The retainer of claim 22, wherein the continuously changing slope is a continuously increasing slope.

24. The retainer of claim 22, wherein the continuously changing slope is a constant curvature.

25. The retainer of claim 22, wherein the outer surface is hemispherical.

26. The retainer of claim 22, wherein the base area is immediately adjacent the bracket.

27-52. -52. (canceled)

53. A display system for displaying a product, the system comprising:

a retainer for retaining the product, the retainer comprising a retainer body comprising a plurality of first magnets; and

a display stem defining a recess and an opening at a proximal portion thereof, the display stem comprising a plurality second magnets disposed adjacent to the opening, the plurality of second magnets having alternating positive and negative polar orientations,

wherein the plurality of first magnets cause rotation of the retainer body to at least one predefined orientation when at least a portion of the retainer body is disposed within the recess of the display stem, if the retainer body is not in the predefined orientation, and

wherein the plurality of first magnets cause the rotation by magnetic attraction to a plurality of the second magnets having the opposite polarity as the plurality of first magnets.

56. The display system of claim 53, wherein the retainer has a plurality predefined orientations with respect to the display stem, and wherein the predefined orientations are based on the positions of the first and second magnets.

57. The display system of claim 56, wherein the predefined orientations are radially separated by at least 90 degrees of rotation of the retainer body within the recess.

58. The display system of claim 56, wherein the predefined orientations are radially separated by 90 degrees of rotation of the retainer body within the recess.

60. The display system of claim 53, wherein the first magnets are evenly radially spaced about a central axis of the retainer.

61. The display system of claim 53, wherein the first magnets are radially spaced about a central axis of the retainer at 90 degree intervals.

62. The display system of claim 53, wherein the second magnets are evenly radially spaced about a central axis of the display stem.

63. The display system of claim 53, wherein the second magnets are radially spaced about the display stem at 45 degree intervals.

64. The display system of claim 53, wherein the first magnets are radially spaced about a central axis of the retainer at 90 degree intervals, and wherein the second magnets are radially spaced about the display stem at 45 degree intervals.

54. (canceled)

55. (canceled)

59. (canceled)

65-68. -68. (canceled)