WO1991003196A1

WO1991003196A1 - Spectacle display assembly

Info

Publication number: WO1991003196A1
Application number: PCT/AU1989/000385
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeffrey John Greenwood
Original assignee: Jeffrey John Greenwood
Priority date: 1989-09-08
Filing date: 1989-09-08
Publication date: 1991-03-21
Also published as: JPH05501963A; DE3991728T

Abstract

The display assembly (10) includes a spectacle support (11) pivotally connected to a mounting clip (12) which may rotate relative to a mounting shaft (13) to which it is releasably attached. The mounting clip (12) is slotted at (17) to provide opposed portions (18, 19) between which a spigot mounting (21) on the spectacle support may be clamped. The spectacle support (11) includes a necked portion (23) having opposed side faces (25) adapted to pass through the spectacles nose gap and a pair of legs (28, 29) which provide support for the spectacles.

Description

SPECTACLE DISPLAY ASSEMBLY

This invention relates to a spectacle display assembly. Many arrangements have been proposed for displaying spectacles or spectacle frames (hereinafter referred to collectively as spectacles) for the purpose of presenting spectacles for sale. Attempts have been made to provide displays which are attractive, which achieve maximum exposure of the spectacles and which require minimum maintenance.

For example, assemblies of column supported trays have been provided in which the trays may be arranged in selected spaced relationship to achieve a pleasing display of a plurality of spectacles. Such display assemblies have the disadvantage that the trays are limited to a substantially horizontal attitude. As a result they collect dust and thus require frequent cleaning.

The present invention aims to alleviate the abovementioned disadvantages and to provide an improved spectacle display assembly which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a spectacle display assembly including spectacle support means co- operable with spectacles whereby the spectacles may be supported in a selected attitude and mounting means on which said spectacle support means may be mounted. The spectacle support means may be in the form of a clamp adapted to clamp about the spectacle frame or lenses or it may be in the form of a multiple contact support having location means thereon for supporting a pair of spectacles. The clamp may incorporate magnetized components to provide the clamping forces if desired.

Preferably the mounting means includes a first mounting member which is adjustably connected to the spectacle support means and a second mounting member upon which said first mounting member may be selectively positioned. The second mounting member may be formed to support a plurality of said first mounting members. Thus one or a plurality of spectacle support means may be connected to respective first mounting members and be selectively supported thereby on the second mounting member. The latter could be in the form of an apertured wall into which the spectacle support means could be plugged at selected locations, but preferably the second mounting member is in the form of a rod or column on which the first mounting members may be selectively positioned.

In the preferred form the first mounting member is in the form of a clip adapted to clip onto the second mounting member which comprises an elongate mounting bar which is suitably of constant cross-sectional configuration. The clip is preferably pivotally connected to the spectacle support means so that the latter may pivot about the clip for support in a selected orientation. Alternatively the spectacle support means and the clip may be selectively positioned relative to one another in various rotational positions by a suitable mounting such as by a splined connection. It is also preferred that the mounting clip be rotatable about the mounting bar. If desired, the mounting clip could be supported for longitudinal movement only along a track arranged along a mounting bar or the like.

In a preferred form, the spectacle support means is adapted to provide stable support for spectacles arranged with the temples inclined rearwardly and downwardly. For this purpose the multiple contact support preferably includes a central contact support adapted to contact the central portion or nose pads of the spectacle frame and provide lateral location therefor and lower contact supports formed on retaining arms on which lower portions of the frame rims or lenses may rest. The spectacle display assembly may be made from any desired material, however it is preferred that it be formed from a clear plastics material whereby it provides minimal visual obstruction to the spectacles displayed thereon. in order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a typical embodiment of the present invention, wherein:-

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the spectacle display assembly in use;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the spectacle support;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the spectacle support and the mounting clip arranged in spaced relationship;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the spectacle support;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the spectacle support and mounting clip arranged in spaced relationship, and FIG. 6 is a front view of the mounting clip.

The spectacle display assembly 10 illustrated in Fig. 1 includes a spectacle support 11 which is pivotally connected to a first mounting means or mounting clip 12 supported on a second mounting means constituted by the plastics mounting shaft 13. The mounting clip 12 is releasably attached to the shaft 13 and thus may be connected thereto at any position along its length. The clip 12 may also be rotated around the shaft 13.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 5 the mounting clip 12 includes a pair of spaced jaws 15 which are recessed at 16 to provide a part circular recess 14 adapted for tight engagement about the shaft 13 whereby the clip 12 may be clipped onto the shaft 13 at any longitudinal position thereon and rotated around the shaft to provide numerous mounting locations. The front portion of the clip 12 is slotted at 17 to provide upper and lower portions 18 and 19 respectively which may move resiliently away from one another. The central portion of the slot is formed with a part-circular socket 20 adapted to engaged tightly about a mounting pin 21 projecting rearwardly from the body 22 of the spectacle support 11. The arrangement is such that engagement of the mounting pin 21 in the socket 20 forces the upper and lower parts 18 and 19 away from one another so that the pin 21 may be clamped in any selected rotational position in the socket 20. The pin 21 extends rearwardly from the main body 22 of the spectacle support 11. A necked portion 23 extends upwardly from the main body 22 to support a central bridge contact 24 which has opposed side faces 25 which converge towards a central apex portion above the pin 21. The side faces 25 are adapted to pass through the nose gap between the frame rims and to engage the nose pads or the rims just below the connecting bridge of the spectacles.

The body portion 22 extends outwardly from each side of the mounting pin 21 to form opposed legs 28 and 29 provided with upwardly extending feet 30 at their respective outer ends. The upper faces 31 of the legs 28 and 29 extend rearwardly from the feet beyond the main body part 22 and provide contact supports for the lower part of spectacle rims. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the feet 30 are disposed forwardly of the bridge mount 24 and form abutments which retain the spectacles from tipping rearwardly whereby a pair of spectacles supported on the spectacle support may be located with the bridge support extending between the rims adjacent the bridge and with the spectacles inclined as illustrated in Fig. 1. The spectacle temples may extend rearwardly of the bar 13 to provide a counter balance to maintain the spectacles in their inclined attitude or they may be folded to a closed position behind the bar 13. The spectacle support 11 provides a stable three part mounting for spectacles which is capable of resisting lateral movement of spectacles supported thereby. Accordingly, the spectacle support 11 may be pivoted about the mounting clip 12 from a normal horizontal attitude to an inclined attitude without the supported spectacles falling from the support 11. Furthermore it will be seen that the spectacle display assembly, which in this embodiment is formed of clear plastics components forms minimum visual obstruction to a spectacle frame or spectacles displayed thereon, such as illustrated in dotted outline at 40.

The main body 22 is provided with a locating lug 32 spaced^radially from the mounting pin 21, and as can be seen in Fig. 5, the mounting clip 12 is cutaway at one end 33 of the slot 17 to provide rotational clearance for the lug 32. Thus when the spectacle support 11 is pushed to its fully home position in the socket 20 of the mounting clip 12 it may be freely rotated until the lug 32 engages either the top or bottom face 34 or 35 of the clip 12. The arrangement is such that the clip 12 may be reversed on the mounting bar 13 so that when the spectacle support 11 is pushed to its fully home position in the socket 20, the locating lug 32 engages within the slot 17 between the upper and lower surfaces 34 and 35 and is held in a position at right angles to the mounting bar 13. Of course the latter may be supported in an upright attitude or an inclined attitude as desired.

Furthermore, if desired, the mounting bar could be formed as a light transmitting member of any desired colour to provide decorative effects.

It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is defined in the appended claims.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THIS INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:-

1. A spectacle display assembly including spectacle support means co-operable with spectacles whereby the spectacles may be supported in a selected attitude and mounting means on which said spectacle support means may be mounted.

2. A spectacle display assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes a first mounting member which is adjustably connected to the spectacle support means and a second mounting member upon which said first mounting member.may be selectively positioned.

3. A spectacle display assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pivotal connection is formed as a releasable spigot and socket connection.

4. A spectacle display assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first mounting member is slotted and includes a socket formed in opposed parts of the slotted mounting and which opposed parts may be separated resiliently to provide a clamping engagement about a spigot mounting formed on said spectacle support means.

5. A spectacle display assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said second mounting member is a shaft and said first mounting member includes a mounting clip adapted to clip on to said shaft.

6. A spectacle display assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said spectacle support means includes a central support adapted to contact the central portion or nose pads of the spectacle frame and provide lateral location therefor and lower supports upon which the lower portions of each lens or lens frame may rest.

7. A spectacle display assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lower supports are formed on opposed retaining arms which extend laterally from said spigot mounting and said central support is formed on a necked portion which extends upwardly from said spigot mounting.

8. A spectacle display assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said retaining arms are formed with abutments which retain the spectacles in an inclined attitude.

9. A"-spectacle display assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said spectacle support means is formed from a clear plastics material.

10. A spectacle display assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.