Display unit for paint colors

Abstract

A display having a generally tower-like shape including a body having a plurality of vertically spaced pockets holding paint color samples that may be viewed by a person and selected for viewing in a miniature room located above the body. The room has three side walls for receiving the color samples and an open side for viewing the samples in the room. The floor of the room receives a selected flooring sample made form tile, carpeting, wood, etc. and the top of the room is open to receive either daylight or sunlight from an overhead light source as selected by the viewer so that the viewer will be able to see the chosen paint color in a realistic setting of a room.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A display for exhibiting color samples including in combination a miniature room including a floor, three side walls and an open side for viewing into the room, means for positioning color samples against said walls, said floor adapted to receive a sample flooring, said room having an open top, and a light source above the room for illuminating the room while it holds the samples.  
     
     
         2 . The display of  claim 1  wherein said light source includes means for illuminating the room with either daylight or room light.  
     
     
         3 . The display defined in  claim 1  including a sample holder located below said room and including means for holding samples.  
     
     
         4 . The display of  claim 1  including a base, and said room is mounted to the base.  
     
     
         5 . The display of  claim 4  including a sample holder mounted on said base below said room for rotation.  
     
     
         6 . The display of  claim 5  including a light source above the room and mounted to the base.  
     
     
         7 . The display of  claim 4  including a light source above the room.  
     
     
         8 . The display of  claim 6  including a shade mounted to the base and wherein said light source is mounted on the shade.  
     
     
         9 . The display of  claim 6  wherein said light source has means for casting either room light or daylight on said room.  
     
     
         10 . The display of  claim 1  including means forming passages on said side walls for receiving said color samples.  
     
     
         11 . The display of  claim 2  including means forming passages on said side walls for receiving said color samples.  
     
     
         12 . A method of viewing color samples including the steps of positioning sheets of color samples on the walls of a miniature room having an open portion through which the color samples may be viewed, and providing a light source for imparting light into the room while it contains the samples.  
     
     
         13 . The method defined in  claim 12  further including the step of providing a sample of flooring material on the bottom of the room so that the sample colors may be viewed in combination with the sample flooring.  
     
     
         14 . The method defined in  claim 12  including the step of storing the sample paint colors in a holder associated with the miniature room.  
     
     
         15 . The method defined in  claim 13  including the step of storing the sample paint colors in a holder associated with the miniature room.  
     
     
         16 . A method of viewing and storing color samples including the steps of positioning sheets of color samples on the walls of a miniature room having an open portion through which the color samples may be viewed, and storing the color samples on a holder associated with the miniature room.