Modular wall system for displaying a product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9936826-B2
Application number	US-201615215215-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2016
Priority date	Aug 21, 2015
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

A system for displaying a product is disclosed. The system includes a wall having a recess therein and a display structure that defines the recess. The display structure extends through a front surface of the wall and includes a frame having a top panel, a bottom panel, and two side panels. The top and bottom panels are longer than the side panels. The system further includes a plurality of modular display units disposed within the display structure. Each modular display unit extends from the bottom panel to the top panel. At least a first one of the modular display units includes a frame open to a front exterior of the display structure and at least a second one of the modular display units is not open to the front exterior of the display structure. The system further includes a plurality of display elements disposed within the plurality of display units.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for displaying a product, the system comprising:
a wall of a room, the wall comprising structural support beams and defining a recess therein;
a display structure defining the recess, wherein the display structure extends through a front surface of the wall and comprises a frame having a top panel, a bottom panel, and two side panels, wherein the top and bottom panels are longer than the side panels;
a plurality of modular display units disposed within the display structure, wherein each modular display unit extends from the bottom panel to the top panel, wherein at least a first one of the modular display units comprises a frame open to a front exterior of the display structure, and wherein at least a second one of the modular display units is not open to the front exterior of the display structure; and
a plurality of display elements disposed within the plurality of display units,
wherein the wall further comprises electrical infrastructure that provides power to the modular display units.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of modular display units are removable and replaceable within the display structure such that their order therein can be rearranged.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least the modular display units is movable within the display structure.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least the second one of the modular display units is movable within the display structure.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
tracks disposed on inner surfaces of the top and bottom panels; and
a rolling system disposed on an outer surface of a top and a bottom of each modular display unit, wherein the rolling system interfaces with the tracks to allow the display units to slide along the top and bottom panels.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of trays disposed on the bottom panel,
wherein the plurality of trays are movable along the bottom panel, and
wherein the plurality of modular display units are disposed on the plurality of trays.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the modular display units are arranged side-by-side, and
wherein each of the modular display units is not disposed above or below another modular display unit.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein a maximum length of the display structure is at least fifty percent of a maximum length of the wall.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the frame of the display structure protrudes from the wall by at least one inch.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein a height of the display structure is at least four feet, wherein a length of the display structure is at least fifty feet, and wherein a depth of the display structure is at least 1 foot.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein a length of at least one of the display units is at least five feet and a length of at least one of the display units is at least ten feet.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least the second one of the modular display units comprises a transparent front.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of modular display units comprises a graphic light box that comprises a fabric graphic panel and a light source disposed behind the fabric graphic panel.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of modular display units comprises a planter module disposed therein, wherein the planter module comprises at leak one living plant.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the frame of the display structure comprises a rear panel that comprises a data box configured to provide power and data to the display elements.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display elements are drawers, each containing a plurality of dividers,
wherein slots are formed in the side edges of the dividers, and
wherein the dividers are repositionable within the drawers by engaging the slots with projections of the drawer.

17. A system for displaying a product, the system comprising:
a wall of a room, the wall defining a recess therein, wherein the recess has a height of at least four feet;
a display structure defining the recess, wherein the display structure extends through a front surface of the wall and comprises a frame having a top panel, a bottom panel, and two side panels, wherein the top and bottom panels are longer than the side panels;
a plurality of trays disposed on the bottom panel, wherein the plurality of trays are movable along the bottom panel.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a modular display unit disposed on at least one of the trays.

19. The system of claim 17 , further comprising:
a track disposed on the bottom panel; and
a wheel disposed on each of the plurality of trays,
wherein the wheel interfaces with the track, and
wherein the plurality of trays are movable along the bottom panel by the wheel rolling along the track.

20. The system of claim 17 , further comprising:
a track disposed on the top panel;
a plurality of modular display units, each disposed on at least one of the trays; and
a wheel disposed on a top of each of the plurality of modular display units,
wherein the plurality of modular display units are movable along the display structure by moving with the plurality of trays as the wheel rolls along the track.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein there are more trays than modular display units.

22. The system of claim 17 , further comprising:
a roller bar disposed on each of the plurality of trays; and
a track disposed on the bottom panel,
wherein the roller bar abuts the track to maintain the position of the tray within the display structure.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Agnoli Vasco
• Andrus James
• Brown Sam
• Feeney James Casey
• Green Christopher M
• Mandon Kully Kraig
• Peak Christopher Daniel
• Siegel Jonathan P
• Behling Stefan
• Smeds Kevin Fenton
• Deffenbaugh Andrew Charles
• Ranes Gregory James
• Schwalbach Charles A
• Yang Sheng
• O'Brien Graham

Classifications

• E04B2/58

  with elongated members of metal · CPC title

• A47F3/14

  Display trays {or containers (combined with racks A47F5/0025; tray partitions A47F5/005; as racks and transportable with merchandise A47F5/108; made of cardboard A47F5/11; stackable A47B87/02)}; (packing boxes used subsequently as display trays B65D) · CPC title

• E04F19/08

  Built-in cupboards; Masks of niches; Covers of holes enabling access to installations ({inspection openings in bathtub aprons A47K3/1615; covers for electrical distribution boxes H02G3/14; movable ceiling parts E04B9/003; removable wall partitions E04B2/74; } clean-out doors of chimneys F23J) · CPC title

• A47F5/10 Primary

  Adjustable or foldable {or dismountable} display stands {(foldable racks in general A47B43/00; dismountable racks in general A47B47/00; assemblies of elements of the same kind, e.g. stackable A47B87/00; publicity panels G09F15/0068)} · CPC title

• A47F3/063

  with pull-out receptacles, e.g. drawers · CPC title