Display device

Abstract

A display device for holding and displaying an article comprises a panel and one or more straps. The strap is movable between an article receiving position whereat the strap and panel form a laterally extending opening for laterally receiving the article therethrough, and an article engaging position whereat the article is frictionally engaged by the strap and panel in a direction perpendicular to the laterally extending opening to restrain lateral movement of the article from the opening. A pair of straps may be adjacent one another to provide vertical spacing between adjacent articles held in the respective straps. A pair of straps may be laterally spaced apart to display at least a portion of the article between the straps.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A display device for holding and displaying an article, comprising: 
 a panel; and    a strap connected to the panel, the strap being movable between an article receiving position whereat the strap and panel form a laterally extending opening for laterally receiving the article therethrough, and an article engaging position whereat the article is frictionally engaged by the strap and panel in a direction perpendicular to the laterally extending opening to restrain lateral movement of the article from the opening.    
     
     
         2 . A display device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the strap is biased towards its article receiving position.  
     
     
         3 . A display device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the strap is automatically movable to the article engaging position by force of gravity when the article has a predetermined weight and is laterally received and subsequently released in the strap.  
     
     
         4 . A display device as set force in  claim 1 , wherein the strap includes a suspension portion and a ledge portion connected to the panel, and an intermediate riser portion connected to and held spaced from the panel by the suspension portion and ledge portion, and wherein when the strap is in its article receiving position the distance between the riser portion and the panel is at least greater than the depth of the article.  
     
     
         5 . A display device as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein when the strap is in its article engaging position the riser portion and the panel engage opposite sides of the article.  
     
     
         6 . A display device for holding and displaying first and second adjacent articles spaced apart, comprising: 
 a panel;    a first strap, the ends of which are connected to the panel such that the first strap and panel form a first laterally extending opening for laterally receiving the first article; and    a second strap, the ends of which are connected to the panel such that the second strap and panel form a second laterally extending opening for laterally receiving the second article;    wherein the first and second straps hold the respective first and second articles relatively spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first and second articles are laterally received in the respective first and second openings.    
     
     
         7 . A display device as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the location at which one of the ends of the first strap is connected to the panel is the same as the location at which one of the ends of the second strap is connected to the panel.  
     
     
         8 . A display device for holding and displaying an article, comprising: 
 a panel; and    first and second laterally spaced apart straps, the ends of the first and second straps being connected to the panel such that the first and second straps and panel form respective first and second laterally extending and coincidental openings for laterally receiving the article therethrough, the straps being laterally spaced apart a distance less than a width of the article to enable the straps to support opposite ends of the article and to display at least a portion of the article between the straps.    
     
     
         9 . A display device as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein an information section is provided on the panel between the first and second straps.  
     
     
         10 . A display device as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the information section is sized such that the information section is at least partially obstructed from view when an article spans the laterally spaced apart first and second straps.  
     
     
         11 . A display device as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein an information section is provided on at least one of the first and second straps, the information section facing away from the panel to which the respective strap is connected.