Modular display system

Abstract

A portable, modular display system and method for use that can esthetically display food or other items on a rigid surface(s) or a series of steps that are illuminated, and these modules can be assembled into a variety of decorative configurations enabling adaptation to an event venue.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A modular display system comprising of at least one of the following (i, through vii.):
 i.)
 a first display module having at least one wire, and/or a wire or other material structure or frame and/or at least one flat rigid surface; 
 a second or thereafter additional display module having at least one wire, and/or a wire or other material structure or frame and at least one flat rigid surface; 
 said second or thereafter additional display module being removably attached to or placed upon and/or above the first or previously positioned display module in a gradually upward and setback stepwise fashion; 
 at least one rigid surface of said second or thereafter additional display module extending over said first or previously positioned display module to form a canopy partially overhanging said first or previously positioned display module; and 
 a lighting device secured to said canopy. 
   and/or ii.)
 a first display module having at least four rigid surfaces attached together to form a step-like structure; 
 a second and/or thereafter additional display module(s) also having at least four rigid surfaces attached together to form a second step-like structure; 
 said second and/or thereafter additional display module(s) being attached to or placed upon and/or above the first or previously positioned display module in a gradually upward and setback stepwise fashion; 
 at least one rigid surface of said second and/or thereafter additional display module extending over said first or previously positioned display module to form a canopy partially overhanging said first or previously positioned display module; and 
 a lighting device secured to said canopy. 
   and/or iii.)
 a first display module having at least four rigid surfaces attached together to form a step-like structure with a second and/or thereafter additional display module also having at least four rigid surfaces attached together to form a second or thereafter additional step-like structure; 
 a lighting device secured to said canopy; 
 a tray capable of for holding liquids and/or solids; 
 an additional lighting device; and 
 one or more clear or frosted decorative display panels being attached or placed upon and/or above said tray and/or said one of four rigid surfaces in said second and/or thereafter additional display module. 
   and/or iv.)
 a first display module having at least four rigid surfaces attached together to form a step-like structure and a second and/or thereafter additional display module also having at least four rigid surfaces attached together to form a second step-like structure; 
 one of said four rigid surfaces in any of said display module(s) has a hole and/or area of material removed; 
 at least one rigid surface of said second and/or thereafter additional display module(s) extends over said first or previously positioned display module to form a canopy partially overhanging said first or previously positioned second and/or thereafter additional display module; 
 a lighting device secured to said canopy; 
 a warming, heating, or cooking device; 
 an additional lighting device; and 
 one or more clear or frosted decorative display panels being attached or placed upon and/or above said one of four rigid surface in said second and/or thereafter additional display module(s). 
   and/or v.)
 a first display module having at least four rigid surfaces attached together to form a step-like structure; 
 a second and/or thereafter additional display module also having at least four rigid surfaces attached together to form a second and/or thereafter additional step-like structure; 
 at least one rigid surface of said second or thereafter additional display module(s) extend over said first or previously positioned display module(s) to form a canopy partially overhanging said first and/or previously positioned display module(s); 
 a lighting device secured to said canopy; 
 an additional lighting device; and 
 one or more clear or frosted decorative display panels being attached or placed upon and/or above said one of four rigid surfaces in said second and/or thereafter additional display module(s). 
   and/or vi)
 a first display module having at least four rigid surfaces attached together to form a step-like structure; 
 a front façade and light support to form a canopy partially overhanging said first display module; 
 a lighting device secured to said canopy; 
 an additional lighting device; and 
 one or more clear or frosted decorative display panels being attached or placed upon and/or above said one of four rigid surfaces in said first display module. 
   and/or vii.)
 a first display module having at least one rigid surface attached to a first frame to form a step-like structure; 
 a second or thereafter additional display module also having at least one rigid surface attached to a second or thereafter additional frame to form a second and/or thereafter additional step-like structure; 
 said second or thereafter additional display module being attached to or placed upon and/or above the first and/or previously positioned display module in a gradually upward and setback stepwise fashion; 
 at least one rigid surface of said second or thereafter additional display module extending over said first or previously positioned display module to form a canopy partially overhanging said first and/or previously positioned display module; and 
 a lighting device secured to said canopy. 
   
     
     
         2 . The modular display system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first display module or second or thereafter additional display module(s) has a surface either made of a frosted material, having a frosted material and/or surface mounted thereon, or having a frosted material and/or surface placed thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The modular display system of  claim 2  wherein said frosted material and/or surface is at least one of glass, plastic, colored, tinted, translucent, and/or clear. 
     
     
         4 . The modular display system of  claim 1 (i) wherein said first display module includes at least one additional bottom rigid surface on the bottom thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The modular display system of  claim 1 (i),  1 (ii),  1 (iii),  1 (iv),  1 (v) and  1 (vi) wherein the back of at least one of the said display modules has an opening on at least one side to the ambient. 
     
     
         6 . The modular display system of  claims 1 (i) and  1 (ii) wherein the depth of all of said display modules are no greater than 30 inches deep each. 
     
     
         7 . The modular display system of  claim 1 (i) wherein at least one rigid surface from each display module is on top of said wire or other material structure or frame. 
     
     
         8 . The modular display system of  claim 1 (i) wherein the thereafter additional modules can continue to be removeably attached to previously positioned modules so as to allow an unlimited quantity of modules to be placed and removeably attached to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The modular display system of  claims 1 (ii),  1 (iv), and  1 (v) wherein at least one of said first and/or second or thereafter additional display module(s) can be made of wire, and/or a wire or other material structure or frame and at least one rigid surface. 
     
     
         10 . The modular display system of  claim 1 (ii) wherein said first display module may include a fifth rigid surface on the bottom thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The modular display system of  claim 1 (iii) further comprising at least one chef table and at least one banquet table, said chef table being 18 inches deep and said banquet table being 30 inches deep. 
     
     
         12 . The modular display system of  claim 11  whereby said at least one chef table and/or said at least one banquet table can be 4 and/or 6 and/or 8 feet wide. 
     
     
         13 . The modular display system of  claim 1 (iii) wherein said second display module is made of wire, and/or a wire or other material structure or frame and at least one rigid surface instead of four rigid surfaces. 
     
     
         14 . The modular display system of  claim 1 (iii) wherein said tray can be made of acrylic or other material. 
     
     
         15 . The modular display system of  claim 1 (iii) wherein a single molded piece can be used for the three or more rigid surfaces forming a tray support base upon which tray support plate can be mounted and/or placed. 
     
     
         16 . The modular display system of  claim 1 (iii) further comprising a device for draining water, said device attached to said tray and consisting of at least one of a hole, a flange, and/or a tube. 
     
     
         17 . The modular display system of  claims 1 (iii),  1 (iv),  1 (v) and  1 (vi) wherein the decorative display panels can be constructed of one of the following materials: glass, plastic, frosted, clear, and/or translucent. 
     
     
         18 . The modular display system of  claim 17  wherein said decorative display panels can be rectangular, planar, curved and/or or other shapes. 
     
     
         19 . The modular display system of  claim 18  wherein said decorative display panels can be joined and/or assembled together using brackets and/or angled brackets and/or Velcro and/or adhesive. 
     
     
         20 . The modular display system of  claim 1 (vi) further comprising a decoration display module comprising at least three rigid decoration surfaces, a means of joining said rigid decoration surfaces together, and a second or thereafter additional lighting device. 
     
     
         21 . The modular display system of  claim 1 (vi) wherein said lighting device and/or additional lighting device(s) can produce said light by an electrical powered lighting device or a chemical lighting device. 
     
     
         22 . The modular display system of  claim 21  wherein said electrical powered lighting device is composed of one or more LED lights. 
     
     
         23 . The modular display system of  claim 22  wherein said electrical powered lighting device is controlled by a lighting control module. 
     
     
         24 . The modular display system of  claim 23  wherein there can be one or more said electrical powered lighting devices controlled by at least one said lighting control modules. 
     
     
         25 . The modular display system of  claim 24  further comprising a means to distribute electrical power from said lighting control module to one or more said electrical powered lighting devices. 
     
     
         26 . The modular display system of  claim 24  wherein there can be one or more said lighting control modules. 
     
     
         27 . The modular display system of  claim 26  further comprising an on/off switch to power all lighting or a portion thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The modular display system of  claim 27  wherein said lighting control modules can either be powered from wall current or have a battery pack that can be mounted and provides power to lighting control modules without the need for wall power. 
     
     
         29 . The modular display system of  claim 28  wherein said lighting control module has one or more control functions including dimming control, chasing patterns, color changing, and/or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The modular display system of  claim 29  wherein switches control said one or more control functions. 
     
     
         31 . The modular display system of  claim 1 (vi) further comprising a device that produces sound. 
     
     
         32 . The modular display system of  claim 29  further comprising a proximity sensor system capability of detecting the proximity of people. 
     
     
         33 . The modular display system of  claim 1  wherein said rigid surfaces are composed of any rigid material including wood, metal, plastic, or glass. 
     
     
         34 . The modular display system of  claim 1  wherein said rigid surfaces are planar and/or curved. 
     
     
         35 . The modular display system of  claim 1  further comprising a means to attach said lighting device to said rigid surfaces. 
     
     
         36 . The modular display system of  claim 35  wherein said means is one or more of Velcro, adhesive, tape, brackets, slots, screw heads, rivets, magnets, snaps, and/or clamps. 
     
     
         37 . The modular display system of  claim 1  wherein a single molded piece forms the at least two said rigid surfaces attached together to form said first, second, or thereafter display module(s). 
     
     
         38 . The modular display system of  claim 1 (ii) wherein a storage container system is attached to said rigid surfaces. 
     
     
         39 . The modular display system of  claim 1 (vii) wherein said first, second, and thereafter additional frames are made of wire or nonmetal material(s). 
     
     
         40 . The modular display system of  claim 1 (vii) further comprising of one rigid surface containing at least one internal housing or bracket device securing at least one removeably attached lighting device. 
     
     
         41 . The modular display system of  claim 40  wherein said one rigid surface has a designated top surface and a designated bottom surface, and said at least one lighting device is attached to said bottom surface. 
     
     
         42 . The modular display system of  claim 41  wherein said bottom surface retains said internal housing or said bracket device and faces downward. 
     
     
         43 . The modular display system of  claim 40  wherein said at least one lighting device which is removeably attached to said internal housing or said bracket also faces downward to project light downwards. 
     
     
         44 . The modular display system of  claim 40  wherein said lighting device has at least one LED light. 
     
     
         45 . The modular display system of  claim 40  wherein said one rigid surface is attached to or placed upon and/or above at least one frame. 
     
     
         46 . A method for setting up a display system comprising of at least one of the following steps:
 a) preplanning an overall display based on an event and a venue;   b) securing equipment from the venue, said equipment comprising one or more of the following; banquet table(s), chef table(s), dishes, serving utensils, and/or electrical power for space;   c) bringing display modules, having lighting means, and/or glass to the event;   d) arranging the tables to form the display;   e) assembling the display modules in place to form shelves;   f) placing glass on the shelves;   g) turning on the lighting;   h) putting display items on the glass.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46  further comprising a step of spreading out a tablecloth on at least one of the tables prior to step e of  claim 46 . 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the glass is a frosted glass. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the items are food. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 46  further comprising breaking down the display system comprising the steps of:
 a) removing any remaining items from the glass or rigid surface; 
 b) turning off the electricity to the module and/or lighting; 
 c) taking the glass overlays if any off the shelves; 
 d) disassembling the display modules; 
 e) removing and/or transporting the display modules and the glass; 
 f) putting away the tables; and 
 g) returning any equipment required to be returned. 
 
     
     
         51 . A method for patron use of a display system comprising the following step:
 a) patron approaching a modular display system and selecting an item and/or items from one or more steps (rigid surfaces and/or glass overlays) of a display module upon which items are presented.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51  comprising the additional step of:
 a) the display system sensing proximity and triggering sounds and/or lighting control functions. 
 
     
     
         53 . A method for staff use of a display system comprising the following steps:
 a) assembling a modular display system;   b) placing items for display on one or more display surfaces of the modular display system (in an aesthetically pleasing manner);   c) preparing and/or storing food for replenishing: and   d) replenishing areas where items are removed by patrons