GB2223342A

GB2223342A - Secure glass display

Info

Publication number: GB2223342A
Application number: GB8918182A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jan S Ennis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-08-12
Filing date: 1989-08-09
Publication date: 1990-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 2009-08-09
Also published as: GB2223342B; GB8918182D0; CA1328444C

Abstract

A spectacle display device comprises a stand (2), a nosepiece (6) and a security member (10) released by key (12). The security member (10) may engage nosepiece (6) in the bore (22) and be held therein by the twin legs (14) of the key (12). <IMAGE>

Description

Descrition SECURE GLASS DISPLAY Technical Field This invention is directed toward the convenient display of eyeglass frames and lenses and in particular to display devices which do not place a barrier between the customer and the frames but include integral security devices.

Background of the Inventicn It is well known and accepted that appearance is of great importance with respect to the utilization of eyeglasses, whether for corrective lenses or for ee protection, i.e. sunglasses.

As the quality of the frames and/or lens inserts have increased, likewise so have their prices making the ready to wear devices prime subject matter for thieves. To reduce the amount of pilferage, shop owners have taken to the procedure of displaying their eyeglasses in glass enclosed, locked cases. This approach not only greatly increases the overhead, but also presents a requirement that a salesperson be readily available to service the display to allow a prospective customer to look at and try on a designer set of eyeglasses.

With the above noted facts in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide an attractive, simple and inexpensive eyeglass display device wherein the displayer can easily control the access te the glasses.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an eyeglass display device wherein the shop holder has a choice of either utilizing an inexpensive display device without security or as an option, with the same display device, provide simple and inexpensive security.

Yet still another object of the present invention, is to adapt a known glass frame display system to a secure display system through the utilization of a simple and yet effective device which securely and selectively controls access to the frame.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a security device wherein the actual device is simple and straight forward, inexpensive to manufacture and the key likewise is simple, straight forward and inexpensive to manufacture.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a vertical support for glass frame or the like wherein a second element is secured to a vertical post above the nosepiece and includes a hingedly mounted member for interacting with the nosepiece and locking the frame to the nosepiece.

Still a further object cf the present invention is to provide a security device for a glasses frame display piece wherein a locking element, which prevents removal of the frame, is snapped into position in a frame supporting element and cannot be removed without the utilization of a specially designed tool.

Brief Description of the Drawinas Figure 1 is a pictorial representation of a display device for a single pair of glasses depicting the preferred support system and the security device.

Figure 2 has an enlarged view of the support and security system of Figure 1 with the eyeglasses removed.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along lines 3-3 of Figure 2 with the security device in place.

Figure 4 is a view identical with Figure 3 with the key inserted moving the security device to an unlocked position.

Figure 5 is a pictorial representation of an alternate embodiment of the present invention including a second fastening point.

Figure 6 is a sectional view along lines 6-6 or Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view along lines 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is yet a third alternate embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of thc.

devices of Figure 8.

Figures 10 and 11 are alternate fastening means.

Figure 12 is a fourth alternate embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode For Carrvina Out The Invention As depicted in Figure 1, the present invention is shown secured to display unit for a single pair of glasses having a base 2, solid cylindrical upright member 4, a nosepiece 6, supporting a pair of glasses 8, mounted in a frame and on essentially rectangular security device 10, which, as explained hereinafter is lockingly held onto the nosepiece 6, and extends upwardly over the top of the frame 8, preventing unauthorized removal of the displayed glasses.

Likewise depicted in Figure 1, is the inventive key device which, for reasons to be explained hereinafter, includes a broad, relatively flat handle portion 12 and a pair of outwardly projecting thin flexible legs 14.

Reference is now had to Figure 2 where it can be seen that the vertical cylindrical display stand 4 supports the nosepiece 6, which includes, as an integral portion thereof, a bridge member 16, and a frcnt face plate member 18, such that, with or without the security device as described hereinafter, a pair of glasses can be set upon the display device for easy visualization and close inspection by the prospective customer.

In the present, preferred embodiment, the lower portion of the bridge member 6, has been fabricated with a solid piece 20, which includes a central rectangular bore 22 which, as can be seen in phantom, in this view and explained in greater detail hereinafter, has inwardly and rearwardly tapered sides.

The security device which holds the glasses in position on the support is depicted as a squared, Ushaped device having a base 24, of sufficient dimension to extend from the bore in the nosepiece upwardly to clear the upper external dimension of the frame. The Ushaped device 10, likewise includes a pair of outwardly extending parallel legs 26 and 28, such that when the security device is locked in position form a closed loop with the vertical support 4.

The member having a body 12 and legs 14 can best be seen in Figure 2 and as seen in this view, the body 12 includes an indentation 30, a bore 32 and the legs 14 are stepped such that the outer edge is thin enough to flex when moved forward into opening 22.

Referring now to Figure 3, it can be seen that when in locked position, the lower leg 28 of the locking U -10 is bifurcated and includes 2 parallel legs 30, 32 separated by a slot and including outwardly extending feet members 34, 36 such that when the leg is forced inwardly along the tapered sides of opening 22 the legs are forced inwardly until they pass the inner edge of element 20 and snap outwardly holding the device in position.

Referring now to Figure 4, to remove the security device, the key is placed in a position straddling the security device and moved forwardly such that the legs of the key bends the legs of the security device inwardly. The legs of the key are of sufficient thickness that they compress the feet, neutralizing the step generated by the feet allowing the security device to be easily removed.

It is to be understood that for greater security additional interactive mechanical devices may be used in conjunction with the security device and the vertical support such as male/female interlocking members preventing undesired lateral movement.

The second embodiment of the present invention is best seen in Figure 5, wherein a vertical member 50, which can support one or more of the secure display devices, is shown having a nosepiece 52 having a man body portion 54 to support the bridge of an eye glass frame, with or without the lenses, and a forward, outwardly projecting flange 56 to retain the frame in position between the support 50 and the flange 56 as well as a horizontal bore 58, all substantially as described with respect to the previous embodiment.

At a predetermined distance above the nosepiece 52 there is supplied an encircling ring member 60 having a forwardly projecting block member including a pair of opposing slots, as described hereinafter, to receive trunion like member 62 located at the upper inner end of latch member 64. Latch member includes a pair of flexible projecting legs (not shown) similar to that shown in the previous embodiment such that the latch member 64 may be pivoted upwardly, as shown in phantom, to allow removal of the eye glass frame or pivoted downwardly to the latched position. In the phantom view, the legs 66 may be seen.

Thus, as can be seen, the utilization of a simple extractor, as described hereinabove to move the latching legs inwardly to clear the edges of the opening 58 allows the latching mechanism 6t to be pivoted upwardly about trunion 62 permst'ing removal of the glass frame.

Reference is now had to Figure 6, wherein the vertical cylfndrical post 50 is shown along with the encircling band 60 and a section through the forward extension 61 which illustrates that the forward extension 61 includes an opening which is open downwardly as at 68 to the left and upwardly as at 70 to the right such that the trunion like members 72 can be moved into operating position by first placing them in a vertical orientation, as shown in phantom, and then rotating them cloclnwise to the operational position as shown in solid.

It is to be understood that since the trunion like member 72 is integral with the upper end portion 62 of securement member 64, once in position, as shown in solid in Figure 6, allows vertical rotation of securement member 64 while preventing removal when securement member 64 is in the downward or latched position.

Reference is now had to Figure 7 wherein it can be seen that the outwardly projecting ears 66 of securement member 64 are inserted into opening 58 and by means of laterally extending latch member 67 are secured in place as explained hereinabove. Also to be seen in this view is a horizontally projecting male member 74 which is an integral element with latch member 64 and projects into horizontal opening 76 within nosepiece 54 further insuring the stability of latch member 64.

As seen in Figure 8, the securement device can be made as a single piece wherein the nosepiece 80 including the flange 82, opening 84 and pin receiving member 86 also includes an upstanding rigid element 88 having forned thereupon the trunion receiving member 90.

Figure 9, which is a side elevational view of the device of Figure 8, including the locking mechanism 92 further includes a rearwardly projecting post 9 for nsertion into a hole 96 in a piece of sheet stock or the like 98.

Figure 10 illustrates how the device of Figure 8 could be mounted upon a horizonal rod 100.

Figure 11 depicts the device of Figure 8 as secured to an angled rod or other support mechanism 102.

Reference is now had to Figure 12, wherein another embodiment is shown wherein the nasal piece 104 is mounted to the edge of a piece of flat stock 106 as is the hinging member 108 which supports the locking member 110.

Thus as can be seen, the present invention contemplates a simple, easy to use method of displaying and security eyeglasses or the like and yet allows a rapid and easy removal for demonstration to the customer.

Claims

1. A secure display system for spectacle frames or the like wherein the frames are supported in a vertical orwentation with the bridge of the frame supported by a nose piece mounted to a vertical member, an upper support member secured to the vertical member above the nose piece, and a locking member extending between the nose piece and the upper support member, said locking member selectively secured to the nose piece and the upper support member whereby when in position it prevents removal of a frame placed upon the nose piece.

2. A display system as in Claim 1, wherein the nose piece includes an integral opening and the locking member interacts therewith.

3. A display device as in Claim 2, wherein the locking member has a forked lower end which snaps into the opening in the nose piece.

4. A display system as in Claim 1, wherein the locking means is hingedly secured to the upper support member.

5. A display system as in Claim 1, and further including at least one auxiliary means preventing relative lateral movement between the vertical member and the locking member.

6. In a display device for eyeglass frames or the like, a security device which permits points of purchase display which maintaining security comprising: a frame support means at or near the bridge of the frame, and capture means selectively attaching the frame support means, said capture means being of a dimension to overlie the bridge of the frame and extend to the support means on either side thereof preventing removal of the frame.

7. A secure display device for spectacle frames comprising: a nose piece secured to a vertical surface to support the bridge of the frame; securement means of a length to extend from a first position upon the nose piece to a second position adjacent the vertical surface, spanning thee bridge of the frame, and means to releasably secure the securement means, preventing unauthorized removal of the frame.

8. A secure display system for eyeglasses or the like comprising: a vertical display stand including at least one nose piece for supporting the nose pads of a spectacle frame located intermediate the ends thereof, said nose piece being of substantially an inverted V in configuration and including a substantially solid interior portion having a front and a back spaced therefrom including a horizontal, opening therethrough, said opening being substantially rectangular in cross section, including a smooth inner surface, and being of a smaller cross section at the back of the nosepiece, a locking bar of a wide U configuration whenviewed from the side, the base of the U being of sufficient length to extend from the rectangular opening in the nose piece to a position above a captured glasses frame, a pair of parallel legs, the bottom one including a vertical slot allowing the leg to be forced into the opening and become locked therein and the upper extending to the vertical stand capturing the eyeglass.

9. A display system as in Claim 8 and further including a key for unlocking the locking bar.

10. A display system as in Claim 8, wherein the lower leg of the locking bar includes outwardly projecting dogs to lock behind the nosepiece.

11. A display system as in Claim 10, wherein the key includes a pair of thin parallel legs to be inserted adjacent the legs of the locking bar releasing the dogs.

12. A secure display system for spectacle frames or the like substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, or in Figures 5 to 7, or in Figures 8 and 9, or in Figures 8 and 9 modified as shown in one of Figures 10 or 11, or in Figure 12 of those drawings.