Display device

Abstract

A display device for displaying samples of a plurality of different materials to potential purchasers. The display device includes an array of display panels pivotally mounted to a first side of a rack. Underlying display panels of the array have free edges with material samples mounted thereon extending beyond free edges of overlying display panels. A story-board portion of the rack is only partially visible behind the array of display panels.

1 . A display device for displaying samples of a plurality of different materials to potential purchasers, said display device comprising: 
 a rack comprising a fixed body panel;    a plurality of display panels detachably mounted to said rack, at least one of said plurality of display panels being a hinged panel pivotally movable between a first position overlying a portion of another of said plurality of panels, and a second position not overlying the other panel, each of said plurality of panels comprising a free edge distal said rack, wherein the free edge of each of the plurality of display panels extends beyond the free edges of any overlying panels when the panels are in the first position; and    each of said plurality of display panels having a material sample displayed thereon, each said material sample extending to the free edge of the panel it is mounted on.    
   
   
       2 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of display panels is mounted to the rack at a position horizontally offset from an adjacent one of the plurality of display panels.  
   
   
       3 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of display panels is wider than an adjacent overlying one of the plurality of display panels.  
   
   
       4 . The display device of  claim 3 , wherein the size of the material samples displayed on the panels increases with the size of the display panels.  
   
   
       5 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the size of the material samples increases with the cost of the material.  
   
   
       6 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein each material sample is a sample of floor covering material.  
   
   
       7 . The display device of  claim 6 , wherein the floor covering material is carpeting.  
   
   
       8 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein each material sample is a sample of wall covering material.  
   
   
       9 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein said rack comprises a story-board extending at least partially beyond peripheral edges of the plurality of display panels, said story-board displaying information directed to potential purchasers of material displayed on the device.  
   
   
       10 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein a first plurality of display panels is mounted to a first side of said rack, and a second plurality of display panels is mounted to a second side of said rack.  
   
   
       11 . A display device for displaying samples of a plurality of different materials to potential purchasers, said display device comprising: 
 a rack having a base, a body panel extending generally upright from said base, and a story-board extending laterally from said body panel; and    an array of display panels mounted to said rack and overlying a portion of the story-board such that said story-board is only partially visible behind the array of display panels to an observer positioned in front of the display device with the array of display panels between the observer and the story-board.    
   
   
       12 . The display device of  claim 11 , wherein each of the display panels of said array is hingedly mounted to the rack, whereby the display panels can be pivotally moved between a first position supported against said story-board and a second position wherein substantially the entire story-board is visible.  
   
   
       13 . The display device of  claim 12 , wherein each of the display panels of said array has a free edge distal said rack and a material sample mounted thereon, the material sample extending substantially to the free edge of the panel.  
   
   
       14 . The display device of  claim 11 , wherein the rack has a first story-board extending laterally from a first side thereof, and a second story-board extending laterally from a second side thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The display device of  claim 14 , comprising a first array of display panels mounted to said rack and overlying a portion of the first story-board such that said first story-board is only partially visible behind the first array of display panels, and a second array of display panels mounted to said rack and overlying a portion of the second story-board such that said second story-board is only partially visible behind the second array of display panels.  
   
   
       16 . A display device for displaying samples of a plurality of different materials to potential purchasers, said display device comprising a first array of display panels pivotally mounted to a first side of a rack, and a second array of display panels pivotally mounted to a second side of the rack, wherein underlying display panels of each of the first and second arrays have free edges with material samples thereon extending beyond free edges of overlying display panels, and wherein story-board portions of the rack are partially visible behind each of the first and second arrays of display panels.  
   
   
       17 . The display device of  claim 16 , wherein underlying display panels of each of the first and second arrays are progressively wider than adjacent overlying display panels.  
   
   
       18 . The display device of  claim 17 , wherein underlying display panels of each of the first and second arrays are progressively taller than adjacent overlying display panels.  
   
   
       19 . The display device of  claim 16 , wherein each display panel is pivotally mounted to the rack at a position horizontally offset from an adjacent display panel.  
   
   
       20 . The display device of  claim 16 , wherein the size of the material samples displayed on the display panels increases with increasing material cost.