Product-display system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11221101-B2
Application number	US-202016805185-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2020
Priority date	Jun 21, 2019
Publication date	Jan 11, 2022
Grant date	Jan 11, 2022

Abstract

A product-display system for displaying and securing a retail product. The system may include a retainer having a retainer bracket and a retainer body coupled to the retainer bracket. A retaining cable may be coupled to the retainer body at an opening in the retainer body. A fastener that may be unfastened to release the product from the retainer may only be accessed through the opening of the retainer body such that when the retaining cable is coupled to the opening, no fasteners of the retainer may be visible or accessible. The system may also include a display stem for holding the retainer and product. The display stem may include a recess for receiving at least a portion of the retainer body. The retaining cable may extend through the display stem and may simultaneously transmit power and data to a displayed product. The retainer may be returned to and held on top of the display stem using a retaining cable. The retainer may be oriented on top of the display stem in one or more predetermined positions through the use of magnetic forces.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A product-display system, comprising:
a retainer for retaining a displayed product, the retainer comprising a retainer body, the retainer body comprising a magnet array, the magnet array comprising:
a plurality of first magnets disposed radially around a central axis and having alternating positive and negative polar orientations, wherein the magnetic axis of each of the first magnets in the plurality of first magnets is disposed in a radial direction relative to the central axis; and
a plurality of second magnets disposed radially around the central axis and having alternating positive and negative polar orientations, wherein the magnetic axis of each of the second magnets in the plurality of second magnets is disposed in a tangential direction relative to the central axis,
wherein first magnets of the plurality of first magnets are disposed adjacent to second magnets of the plurality of second magnets, and wherein at least one second magnet of the plurality of second magnets is disposed between two first magnets of the plurality of first magnets, and at least one first magnet of the plurality of first magnets is disposed between two second magnets of the plurality of second magnets; and

a display stem having a recess configured to receive the retainer and comprising a magnet array,
wherein magnetic interaction between the magnet array of the retainer body and the magnet array of the display stem causes rotation of the retainer to at least one predefined orientation when at least a portion of the retainer is disposed within the recess of the display stem, if the retainer is not in the predefined orientation.

2. The product-display system of claim 1 , wherein the retainer comprises four and no more than four predefined orientations relative to the display stem.

3. The product-display system of claim 2 , wherein the four predefined orientations are separated by 90 degrees of rotation of the retainer body within the recess of the display stand.

4. The product-display system of claim 1 , further comprising a retaining cable comprising a plug, wherein the plug is coupled to a port disposed at an opening of the retainer body, and wherein the plug is free to rotate axially in the port relative to the retainer body.

5. The product-display system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first and second magnets in the magnet array of the retainer body comprises a curved outer surface.

6. The product-display system of claim 5 , wherein the retainer body further comprises a curved outer surface, wherein the curvature of the outer surface of each of the plurality of first and second magnets in the magnet array of the retainer body is the same as the curvature of at least a portion of the curved outer surface of the retainer body.

7. The product-display system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first magnets comprise two opposing flat sides and a curved side disposed between the two flat sides, wherein the two flat sides are disposed parallel to one another.

8. The product-display system of claim 1 , wherein each of the second magnets comprise two opposing flat sides and a curved side disposed between the two flat sides, wherein the two flat sides are disposed at an oblique angle relative to one another.

9. The product-display system of claim 1 , wherein the retainer body further comprises a second magnet array, wherein the first and second magnet arrays of the retainer body are each arranged in a circular arc centered on the central axis, wherein the first and second magnet arrays of the retainer body are spaced apart from one another, and wherein the first and second magnet arrays of the retainer body are disposed opposite each other across the central axis.

10. The product-display system of claim 1 , wherein the magnet array of the display stem comprises:
a plurality of first magnets disposed radially around a central axis and having alternating positive and negative polar orientations, wherein the magnetic axis of each of the first magnets in the plurality of first magnets is disposed in a radial direction relative to the central axis; and
a plurality of second magnets disposed radially around the central axis and having alternating positive and negative polar orientations, wherein the magnetic axis of each of the second magnets in the plurality of second magnets is disposed in a tangential direction relative to the central axis,
wherein first magnets of the plurality of first magnets are disposed adjacent to second magnets of the plurality of second magnets, and wherein at least one second magnet of the plurality of second magnets is disposed between two first magnets of the plurality of first magnets, and at least one first magnet of the plurality of first magnets is disposed between two second magnets of the plurality of second magnets.

11. The product-display system of claim 10 , wherein the magnet array of the display stem is arranged in a circle around the central axis.

12. The product-display system of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of first and second magnets in the magnet array of the display stem comprise a curved outer surface.

13. The product-display system of claim 12 , wherein the recess of the display stem comprises a curved outer surface, and wherein the curvature of the outer surface of each of the plurality of first and second magnets in the magnet array of the display stem is the same as the curvature of at least a portion of the curved outer surface of the recess.

14. The product-display system of claim 10 , wherein each of the second magnets of the magnet array of the retainer body comprise two opposing flat sides and a curved side disposed between the two flat sides, wherein the two flat sides are disposed at a first oblique angle relative to one another,
wherein each of the second magnets of the magnet array of the display stem comprise two opposing flat sides and a curved side disposed between the two flat sides, wherein the two flat sides are disposed at a second oblique angle relative to one another, and
wherein the first and second oblique angles are the same.

15. A display system, comprising:
a retainer, comprising:
a retainer bracket configured to secure a displayed product, and
a retainer body coupled to the retainer bracket and comprising an edge, an opening, and a smooth outer surface extending continuously from the edge to the opening;

a display stem comprising a recess configured to receive the retainer body, wherein magnetic interaction between a magnet array of the retainer body and a magnet array of the display stem causes rotation of the retainer 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;
a retaining cable extending through the display stem and having a first end coupled to the retainer body at the opening;
a cable-retraction unit comprising a cable spool and a cable-biasing mechanism, wherein a second end of the retaining cable is coupled to the cable-retraction unit, wherein the retaining cable is spirally wound onto the cable spool in a single plane, and wherein the cable-biasing mechanism provides a biasing force to the cable,
a pulley assembly; and
a display surface, wherein the pulley assembly and the display stem are disposed on opposing sides of the display surface, and wherein fasteners extending between the pulley assembly and the display stem secure the display stem to the display surface.

16. The display system of claim 15 , further comprising a retained prod

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Yang Sheng
• Wang Eric W
• Michalske Steven C
• Ching Olivia
• Woosley Clayton R
• Yuen Samuel Wing Man
• Hack Paul Joseph
• Mariano Ricardo A
• Chen Chien Tsun
• Tziviskos George
• Schwalbach Charles A

Classifications

• G08B13/1418

  Removal detected by failure in electrical connection between the appliance and a control centre, home control panel or a power supply · CPC title

• F16M13/00

  Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles (heads thereof F16M11/02 {; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20} ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 {; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22}); Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles {(supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025)} · CPC title

• F16M11/041

  Allowing quick release of the apparatus · CPC title

• A47F7/0246 Primary

  for rectangular articles, e.g. books, cassettes (on the article itself E05B73/0023) · CPC title

• A47B2220/0036

  Brackets · CPC title