For years now, Apple has been winning design patents for individual Apple Store fixtures, displays and tables. Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals their technical modular display system that guarantees display perfection at every Apple Store that applies the new system, regardless of configurations chosen for a store.

Technically speaking, Apple's invention details systems, apparatuses, and methods related to modular wall systems for displaying products. A wall system for displaying products may include a wall having a recess therein, a display structure defining the recess, a plurality of modular display units disposed within the display structure, and a plurality of display elements disposed within the plurality of display units.

In some embodiments, the display structure extends through a front surface of the wall and includes a frame having a top panel, a bottom panel, and two side panels. In some embodiments, the top and bottom panels are longer than the side panels. In some embodiments, each modular display unit extends from the bottom panel to the top panel. At least a first one of the modular display units has a frame open to a front exterior of the display structure and at least a second one of the modular display units is not open to the front exterior of the display structure.

In some embodiments, the plurality of modular display units are removable and replaceable within the display structure such that their order therein can be rearranged. In some embodiments, at least the first one of the modular display units is movable within the display structure. In some embodiments, at least the first one of the modular display units is slidable within the display structure. In some embodiments, at least the second one of the modular display units is movable within the display structure. In some embodiments, at least the second one of the modular display units is slidable within the display structure.

One or more embodiments have tracks disposed on inner surfaces of the top and bottom panels and a rolling system disposed on an outer surface of a top and a bottom of each modular display unit. The rolling system interfaces with the tracks to allow the display units to slide along the top and bottom panels.

In some embodiments, the modular display units are mounted to a rear panel of the display structure. In some embodiments, the modular display units are mounted to a rear panel of the display structure by cleats.

In some embodiments, the modular display units are arranged side-by-side. In some embodiments, each of the modular display units is not disposed above or below another modular display unit.

In some embodiments, a maximum height of the display structure is at least fifty percent of a maximum height of the wall. A maximum length of the display structure may be at least fifty percent of a maximum length of the wall. A maximum height of the display structure may be at least seventy-five percent of a maximum height of the wall. A maximum length of the display structure may be at least seventy-five percent of a maximum length of the wall. In some embodiments, the display structure has a constant height along its length. In some embodiments, the display structure has a constant length along its height. In some embodiments, the display structure has a constant depth along its height and length.

Apple's patent application was filed back in Q3 2016.

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