US3288545A - Display cabinets - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 29, 1966 J. BENNE.

DISPLAY CABINETS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1964 INVENTOR. Afio/m/m t7." EE/V/VE Nov. 29, 1966 J. BENNE DISPLAY CABINETS S Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1964 uni-m FIR-m y INVENTOR.

(EON/7R0 J. EENNE Nov. 29, 1966 J. BENNE 3,283,545

DISPLAY CABINETS Filed May 8, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheefc f5 United States Patent 3,288,545 DISPLAY CABINETS Leonard J. Benne, Orange, Caliii, assignor to American Greetings Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of 61110 Filed May 8, 1964, Ser. No. 365,302 12 Claims. (Cl. 312-193) This invention relates to display cabinets and more particularly, to a convertible display cabinet having a plurality of article support elements of different types which are usable alternatively or in combination for displaying different kinds of merchandise.

The invention has forits primary object the provision of a cabinet of the aforesaid nature which is characterized by its structural simplicity, its economy of manufacture, the ease of assembly of its parts, the. attractive forms in which it may be made, and the particularly effective manner in which it performs its intended functi-ons.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display cabinet having a plurality of article support elements which are optionally movable from a retracted or nonfunctional position to an extended or functional position.

Still another object is to provide a display cabinet in which some of the support elements are retractable to a position out of sight when other support elements are in use.

Yet another object is to provide a display cabinet provided with a retractable support element particularly suitable for the display of greeting cards and which support element is usable alternatively 'with a shelf type supporting element.

A further object is to provide such a display cabinet in which the shelf support element is alternatively usable, when desired, as a pegboard display means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display cabinet in which all of the support elements are retractable, when desired, to a stored position within the cabinet.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a display cabinet wherein greeting cards, stationery, ribbon, wrapping paper, stickers, tags, and other articles of merchandise directed to use and being in demand for various special occasions and holidays may be displayed for merchandising purposes on appropriately adapted support means in various ways as the needs of the seasons change.

Further objects of the present invention and a number of its advantages will be referred to in or will be evident from the following description of one embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the display cabinet of this invention with all of the support elements thereof in the extended position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective similar to FIG. 1 showing a support element for greeting cards and the like in partially retracted position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective similar to FIG. 1 showing the greeting card support element fully retracted;

FIG. 4 is a perspective similar to FIG. 1 showing all of the support elements fully retracted within the cabinet;

FIG 5 is an enlarged section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a retainer element shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a section taken along the line 7-7 of FIG 3;

FIG. 8 is a section taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a section taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a section taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a section taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is an elevation as seen from the line 13-13 of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a section of the entire display cabinet of this invention taken along the line 14-14 of FIG. 4.

Before the device illustrated is specifically described, it is to be understod that the invention here involved is not limited to the structural details or arrangement of parts shown since display cabinets embodying the present invention may take various forms. It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation since the scope of the present invention is denoted by the appended claims.

The embodiment of the display cabinets of this invention which is herein illustrated comprises a housing, generally indicated at 1 in FIGS. 1-4 and 14, to which said housing is pivotally and retractably mounted a greeting card support element 2 and a pegboard support element 3. The housing and support elements may be made of any suitable material, and in the form shown said :housing is made of wood whereas the support elements 2 and 3 are formed from sheet metal. Generally, as well shown by the succession of perspective views, FIGS. 1-4, the greeting card support element 2 and the pegboard support element 3 are pivoted within the housing 1 adjacent to a rear wall thereof and are pivotable forwardly whereby one or both of said elements are completely retractable within said housing.

The housing 1 comprises a pair of side walls 11 joined at their rear vertical edges by an enclosing rear wall 11 and joined at the upper portions of their front edges by a relatively short front wall 12. The side walls 16 are rearwardly stepped or offset in a rearward direction at the bottom of their front edges as indicated at 13, said step or offset portions being joined by a front wall portion or kickplate 14. A floor 15 of the cabinet extends from the rear wall 11 forwardly to the vertical plane of the front face of the front wall '12 and is supported adjacent to its forward edge by the front wall portion or kickplate 14.

The lower edge portion of the front wall 12 carries a rearwardly directed extension 16 which projects inwardly of the housing 1 a short distance. Channels 17 and 18 are provided in the lower surfaces or edges of the front wall 12 and the extension 16 respectively, and directly therebelow there are provided a pair of channels 19 and 20 in the forward edge portion of the floor 15. The channels 17-20 extend all the way across the housing 1 between the side walls 10, the channels 17 and 19 affording ways for a sliding door 21 and the channels 18 and 2t] similarly affording ways for a sliding door 22. The doors 2 1 and 22. are slidable in overlapping relation to each other in such manner as to afford access to the interior of the housing 1 from either side of said housing and whereby the entire front of the housing may be closed. Knobs 23 and 24 are provided on the doors 21 and 22 respectively whereby said doors may be easily grasped for sliding between open and closed positions.

By referring to FIG. 14, it will be noted that the rear wall 11 terminates at its upper edge a short distance below the upper edges of the side walls 10. This affords clearance for pivotally mounting the pegboard support element 3 between the rear and uppermost corner portions of the side Walls 10. The greeting card support element 2 is similarly pivoted slightly forwardly and downwardly of the pivotal axis of the pegboard support element 3.

The pivoting means for the support elements 2 and 3 are detailed in FIGS. 5 and 11. The pivoting means comprises a pair of elongated, vertical slots or recesses 30 and 31 in the inner wall surfaces of each side wall with the slots 30 being substantially longer than and disposed forwardly of the slots 31. U-shaped reinforcing plates 32 and 33 secured to the walls 10 by screws 32a and 33a respectively, are positioned over the grooves 30 and 31 respectively to strengthen the pivot supports and to decrease wear. An elongated pivot shaft 34 has its ends disposed in the bottoms of the slots 30 and extends between the side walls 10 for pivotally mounting the greeting card support element 2. Similarly, a pivot shaft 35 has its end portions seated in the bottoms of the slots 31 whereby it is adapted for pivotal mounting of the pegboard support element 3.

The greeting card support element 2 comprises a pair of generally triangular side walls 40 adjoined by a rear wall 41 (FIG. 3) and a short front wall 42 (FIG. 12). In its extended or upright position as shown in FIG. 1, the rear wall 41 is disposed in a vertical plane at the back of the housing, and the upper edges of the side walls I 40 slant rearwardly and upwardly, with a slight decorative inward angle, from adjacent the upper edge of the front wall 12 of the housing 1 generally to the upper edge of the rear wall 41 of the support element 2. Between the side walls 40 there are provided a multiplicity of card support shelves, each shelf being L-shaped and comprising a rearwardly and downwardly slanted base 43 and an upwardly and rearwardly slanted riser 44 with each riser upwardly overlapping the base disposed behind it to afford a retaining foot for cards C positioned on such rearwardly adjacent base as illustrated in FIG. 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the pivot shaft 34 projects through suitable apertures 40a adjacent to the lower rear corners of the side walls 40 whereby the greeting card support element 2 is pivotable downwardly (FIG. 2) to a position with the rear wall 41 affording a base or flat surface upon which boxes or other articles may be placed for display (FIG. 3).

Means are provided for retaining the support element 2 in the upright position as illustrated in FIG. 1, said means being shown in detail in FIG. 12. The front wall 42 extends vertically downwardly below the lower edges of the side walls 40 and is there formed to provide a rectangular extension 45 which extends all the way across the front lower edge of the support element 2 and serves to strengthen and reinforce the same. The front Wall 12 of the housing 1 carries a spring retainer or support 46 which is detailed in FIG. 13 and comprises a generally rectangular plate of spring steel secured to the inner surface of said front wall 12 by suitable means such as screws 47. The support 46 angles rearwardly and inwardly of the housing 1 and is provided at its upper corners with step-shaped seat extensions 48 which are adapted to seat the extension 45 of the front wall 42. A handle 49 is disposed at the front surface of the front wall 12 generally within a recess 12a thereof, said handle 49 carrying a pin 50 which projects rearwardly through an aperture 12b in said front wall 12. The distal end of the pin 50 is secured to the retainer or support 46 at a position spaced upwardly from the screws 47 and at a level where said support is spaced rearwardly of the front wall 12 a substantial distance. By pulling manually upon the handle 49, the spring support 46 can be moved from the full line position to the dotted line position thereof shown in FIG. 12 whereby the front wall 42 of the support element 2 can be pivoted past the seat extensions 48. When released, the handle 49 seats in the bottom of the recess 12a thereby limiting the inward pivotal movement of the support 46 to the position illustrated.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that when the support element 2 is in the upright or extended position illustrated in FIG. 1, the rectangular extension 45 of the front wall 42 seats upon the seat extensions 48 which are firmly held against further rearward movement by the handle 49. When it is desired to retract the element 2 to the position illustrated in FIG. 3, said element is first raised slightly at its forward edge by pivoting it rearwardly about the shaft 34, and the handle is then pulled forwardly whereby the seat extensions 48 are pulled up adjacent to the inner surface of the front wall 12 to allow clearance for the front wall 42 of said support element as said support element pivots downwardly and forwardly.

It will also be readily understood that the handle 49 is pulled outwardly to pull the seat extensions 48 forwardly in the same manner as described above when it is desired to pivot the greeting card support element 2 upwardly and backwardly from the position shown in FIG. 3 through the intermediate position shown in FIG. 2 to the fully upright position as shown in FIG. 1. Release of the handle 49 then allows the retainer or support 46 to spring inwardly away from the front wall 12 to the full line position illustrated in FIG. 12 whereby to afford seating means and support for the front edge of the greeting card support element.

To facilitate the lifting and positioning of the support element 2, a retractable handle 51 is provided adjacent to the upper edge of the rear wall41. The handle 51 is detailed in FIG. 10 and is preferably formed from relatively heavy steel wire bent to a hat-shaped form thereby affording a gripping portion 52, parallel arms 53, and laterally outwardly projecting extensions 54 of said arms. The arms 54 project through a pair of suitable apertures 55 in the rear wall 41 with the extensions 54 being disposed on the inner side of said wall to prevent complete removal of the handle 51. A recess 41a is formed in the rear wall 41 beneath the gripping portion 52 to facilitate the grasping of said gripping portion by a person. When the support element 2 is in the position shown in FIG. 3, the handle 51 is retracted by the force of gravity to the broken line position of FIG. 10 whereby it is virtually flush with the now upwardly facing rear surface of the rear wall 41 but in a position where it can be easily grasped because of the recess 41a. A person need only grasp the handle thereby pulling the arms 53 outwardly and the extensions 54 upwardly against the rear wall 41 for lifting and pivoting the support element 2 out of the housing 1.

FIG. 14 shows the support element 2 in the completely retracted position, and it will be noted that in this position the rectangular extension and reinforcing portion 45 bears against the inner surface of the rear wall 11 of the housing 1. So positioned, the rear wall 41 of the support element 2 is disposed horizontally with the retractable handle 51 in the broken line, retracted position of FIG. 10 whereby to afford a flat, horizontal support for the display of merchandise when the pegboard support element 3 is in the upright position as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The pegboard support element 3 comprises a sheet metal panel 60 of rectangular shape having integrally formed at each of the side edges thereof a hollow, rec tangular bead or frame 61 (FIGS. 8 and 11). The pivot shaft 35 projects through suitable apertures 61a in side portions of the frame 61 adjacent to the lower edge of the panel 60. As well shown in FIG. 14, the relative positions of the axes of the pivot shafts 34 and 35 is such that when the support elements 2 and 3 are in the retracted position, the panel 60 lies fiatwise in a horizontal position parallel with the rear wall 41 with the upper edge of the frame 61 resting against said rear wall adjacent to its upper edge. In this manner, the panel 60 serves as a fiat, horizontal supporting surface for the display of boxes, packages or other merchandise when the type of display desired requires a display cabinet with an ordinary flat, upper surface. Adjacent to the upper edge of the panel 60, there is provided a finger gripping aperture 62 whereby the pegboard support element 3 may be gripped for raising it from the position of FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIGS. 1-3.

Means are provided for securing and retaining the pegboard support element 3 in the vertical, raised position, said means being detailed in FIGS. 5 and 6. The retaining means comprise a pair of braces 63 preferably made of fiat sheet metal having one end portion thereof welded or otherwise suitably secured flatwise to side portions of the frame 61 in an upwardly spaced relation to the pivot shaft 35. The braces 63 are disposed between the outer surfaces of the side portions of the frame 61 and the inner surfaces of the adjacent side walls of the housing 1. Said braces extend forwardly and obliquely downwardly having catch portions 64 disposed just below the upper edges of the side walls 10 when the support element 3 is in the vertically upright position. Each catch portion 64 is horizontally notched at 65 at its forward edge and has a forwardly directed extension 66 disposed just below each said notch.

Each catch portion 64 engages a latch member 70 which is movable between latched and unlatched positions and which is shown in detail in FIG. 6. Said latch member is hat-shaped in cross section having a web portion 71, parallel side walls 72, and laterally projecting, coplanar flanges 73. The flanges 73 are provided with parallel, elongated slots 74, and the web portion 71 is provided with a finger gripping aperture 75, the edge of which is covered by a protective ring or grommet 77 made of brass or other suitable material.

A latch member 70 is secured to the inner surface of each side wall 10 adjacent to one of the catch portions 64 by means of a pair of vertically aligned screws 76. Said latch member is so positioned that the uppermost side wall 72 is disposed in line with the notch 65 of the adjacent catch portion 64 when the support element 3 and the braces 63 are in the positions illustrated in FIG. 5. In the latched position as illustrated in FIG. 5, the upwardly disposed side wall 72 of each latch member engages a notch 65 of a catch portion 64. The notches 65 prevent any pivoting movement of the support element 3 about the pivot shaft 35 whereas the web portions 71 prevent any inward displacement or bending of the distal ends or catch portions 64 of the braces 63. Each latch member 70 is longitudinally movable from the latched position shown in full line in FIG. 5 to the unlatched position shown in broken line in the same figure when the screws '76 are loosened, and said screws may be tightened to hold said latch member firmly in either said position.

By referring to FIG. 14, it will be noted that when the support element 3 is in its fully retracted position, the lower edges of the catch portions 64 of the braces 63 abut the front of the rear wall 11 of the housing 1 thereby reinforcing and bracing the panel 60 when it is in the retracted, horizontal position of FIG. 4.

The panel 60 of the pegboard support element 3 is provided with a multiplicity of uniformly arranged apertures 78 adapted to receive various types of well-known pegboard fixtures such as, for example, those shown at 79 in FIG. 3. Those familiar with the art will be aware that these pegboard fixtures come in various sizes and shapes and comprise means removably attachable to the apertured panel 60 and may be used singly or in pairs to provide various arrangements of hangers, hooks, supports, and the like for hanging or supporting articles of various shapes and sizes. For example, a pegboard fixture of the type shown at 79 may be used in pairs to support rolls of wrapping paper or they may be used singly for hanging packaged articles having an apertured suspension portion by means of which said packaged articles may be threaded upon said pegboard fixtures.

The pegboard support element 30 is provided with two foldable shelves 80 which are, in the form of the invention illustrated, preferably made of sheet metal. Each shelf 80 has a flat support portion 81 which, like the panel 60, is provided with a multiplicity of uniformly arranged apertures 82. The rear edges of the support portion 81 are folded downwardly and then back upwardly upon themselves to provide stiffening and reinforcing flanges 83 around the edges of the shelves as best illustrated in FIG. 7.

Each shelf 80 is of such length as to fit between the side portions of the frame 61 of the panel 60. As hereinbefore described, the frame 61 is hollow and square or rectangular in shape thereby providing parallel inner flanges 84 spaced inwardly from the extreme side edges of the panel 60 as best shown in FIG. 8. The shelves 80 are pivoted adjacent to their rear edges to the side flange portions 84 of the side frame portions 61 by means hereinlater described and are pivotable downward- 1y to a retracted position between said side frame portions.

Means are provided for retaining each shelf 80 in the horizontal position as illustrated by the upper shelf in FIG. 3. Said means comprise a pair of triangular braces 85 which are hinged along their upper edges of a hinge plate 86 by means of a hinge pin 87. Each hinge plate 86, as best shown in FIG. 7, is tack welded to the inner surface of a side portion of the flange 83 whereby each brace 85 is movable with its associated shelf 80. Each brace 85 is foldable upwardly, as indicated in broken line in FIG. 7, to a position within the flange 83 where it will not interfere with the downward pivoting of the associated shelf 80.

The lower end of each brace 85 is provided with a laterally directed lug 88 (FIG. 7) which projects in the direction of the adjacent side portion of the frame 61 and is adapted to interfit a notch 89 (FIG; 8) which is provided in each adjacent flange 84 thereby locking the associated shelf 80 against further upward pivotal movement as well as against downward pivotal movement.

The pivot means for the shelves 80 comprise pivot bolts 90 which project through suitable apertures in the hinge plates 86 and the flanges S3 and are provided with smooth shank portions 91 and reduced threaded portions 92. The threaded portions 92 are threadfitted into the flanges 84 and weld nuts 93 carried by said flanges.

Means are provided for retaining the shelves 811 in their folded position whereby they will not pivot outwardly away from the panel 60 by the force of gravity when the pegboard support element 3 is being pivoted forwardly toward the fully retracted position as shown in FIG. 4. This means comprises an L-=shaped spring retainer 190 having a detent 101 formed in a horizontally directed leg 162 thereof. A retainer is secured to the panel 60 by a rivet 163 beneath each shelf 80. The front edge portion of each shelf flange 83 is provided with a dimple 104 which engages with the detent 101 when the shelf associated therewith is in the folded position thereby retaining said shelf in such folded position as best shown in FIG. 9.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that in use of the display cabinet of this invention, the user has the option of affording means for displaying a variety of greeting cards or the like by folding both of the support elements 2 and 3 to the upright position shown in FIG. 1 or he may retract the support element 2 and use the support element 3 either as a complete pegboard or as a pegboard having either one or two available shelves. The apertures 82 in the shelves 80 make the support element 3, in effect, an ordinary pegboard when both shelve are folded downwardly. A final optional use is illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein both of the support elements are completely retracted and a flat upper surface only is provided for the housing 1. And in any position of the support elements, even the fully retracted position, storage space is provided. behind the sliding doors 21 and 22.

It will be understood that many changes in the details of the invention as herein described and illustrated may be made without, however, departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A display cabinet comprising a housing; a plurality of article support elements for displaying articles of various kinds; means mounting said article support elements to said housing whereby they are movable from a retracted position within said housing to an extended, article displaying position outside said housing; at least one of said support elements comprising a pegboard panel hinged at one edge of said panel adjacent to an edge of said housing and swingable from a horizontal position overlying the upper end of said housing to a vertically upright, article supporting position at the back of said housing; at least one fiat brace member disposed in a vertical plane carried at one side of said panel and extending downwardly into said housing for bracing said panel in its upright position; the forward distal end of said brace member having a horizontal slot therein opening away from said panel; a slidable latch member carried by said housing adjacent to an upper edge thereof having a horizontal wall portion; said slot engaging said horizontal wall portion when said pegboard panel is in the upright position and said latch member is slid rearwardly.

2. A display cabinet comprising a housing; a plurality of article support elements for displaying articles of various kinds; means mounting said article support elements to said housing whereby they are movable from, a re tracted position within said housing to an extended, article displaying position outside said housing; at least one of said support elements comprising a card support having a fiat back wall and a forwardly and downwardly tapered, stepped, front card displaying portion; said card support pivoted, adjacent to the lower edge of said back wall, adjacent to one wall of said housing and swingable between an upright position substantially above said housing to a retracted position within said housing; said card support having a downwardly projecting, laterally directed, reinforcing extension at its forward edge; said housing having a front wall adjacent to said front edge when said card support is in the upright position; retractable retaining means mounted to said front wall comprising a spring retainer mounted to the inner surface of said front wall and biased inwardly; said spring retainer having stepped seat portions adjacent to its upper edge engageable with said extension to hold said card support in its upright position; a pin connected to said spring retainer and projecting through said front wall and having a handle on its distal end; said spring retainer and said seat portion swingable forwardly out of the path of said reinforcing extension by pulling forwardly on said handle whereby to release said card support and allow it to retract within said housing.

3. An article display cabinet, comprising a housing having an open upper end, an article-displaying structure pivotally mounted on said housing at the rear thereof and adjacent its upper end, said structure being manually swingable about its pivot between a generally upright article-displaying position and a generally horizontal arti cle-supporting position within said housing and adjacent its upper end, said structure being of a size to substantially close the upper end of said housing when it is in such generally horizontal position, said structure having a generally flat rear wall, a pair of forwardly projecting side walls and a plurality of vertically spaced, transversely disposed article-receiving ledges between said side walls and means for releasably retaining said structure in its generally upright position.

4. An article display cabinet as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that the means for releasably retaining said article-displaying structure in its generally upright position comprises a manually operable means movable into and out of position beneath said structure for the support thereof when such structure is in its generally upright position.

5. An article display cabinet as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that the means for releasably retaining 8 said article-displaying structure in its generally upright position comprises a manually operable means carried by said housing at the front thereof and movable into and out of position beneath said structure for the support thereof when such structure is in its generally upright position.

6. An article display cabinet as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that said article-displaying structure is provided at that end thereof which is at the front of the housing, when said structure is in its generally upright position, with a transversely disposed offset member which is engaged by the means for releasably retaining said structure in its generally upright position and which offset member engages the housing at the rear thereof when said structure is in its generally horizontal position to releasably maintain said structure in such generally horizontal position.

7. An article display cabinet. as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that said article-displaying structure is provided with a handle for use in manually swinging said structure between its generally upright position and its generally horizontal position within said housing and adjacent its upper end, said handle being of gravity retractable character so that when said structure is in its generally horizontal position within the housing, said handle falls to a position which is substantially flush with such structure.

8. An article display cabinet, comprising a housing having an open upper end, an article-displaying structure pivotally mounted on said housing at the rear thereof and adjacent its upper end, said structure being manually swingable about its pivot between a generally upright article-displaying position and a generally horizontal articlesupporting position within said housing and adjacent its upper end, such structure being of a size to substantially close the upper end of said housing when in its generally horizontal position, said structure having a perforated pegboard type portion as the principal part thereof and which portion is provided with at least one perforated article-displaying shelf pivotally mounted thereon.

9. An article display cabinet, comprising a housing having an open upper end, an article-displaying structure pivotally mounted on said housing at the rear thereof and adjacent its upper end, said structure being manually swingable about its pivot between a generally upright article-displaying position and a generally horizontal position within said housing and adjacent its upper end, said structure being of a size to substantially close the upper end of said housing when in such generally horizontal position and providing at such times an article support, said structure having a side member extending toward the front of the housing when such structure is in its generally upright position, and manually slidable means cooperable with such side member to releasably retain such structure in its generally upright position.

10. An article display cabinet as set forth in claim 9, characterized in that the side member of such structure is provided adjacent its front end with a forwardly opening slot for cooperative engagement with said manually slidable means in the releasable retention of such structure in its generally upright position.

11. An article display cabinet, comprising a housing having an open upper end, a first article-displaying structure pivotally mounted on said housing adjacent the rear thereof and adjacent its upper end, a second article-displaying structure pivotally mounted on said housing adjacent its upper end and rearwardly of the pivotof said first article-displaying structure, each of said structures being manually swingable about its pivot between a generally upright article-displaying position and a generally horizontal position within said housing and adjacent its upper end, each of said structures being of a size to substantially close the upper end of the housing when said structure is in its generally horizontal position, said second structure overlying and being supported on said first structure when both of said structures are in their generally horizontal positions, and means for releasably retaining each of such structures in its generally upright position, the retaining means for one of such structures being of swingable form and the retaining means for the other of such structures being of slidable form.

12. An article display cabinet, comprising a housing having an open upper end, a first article-displaying structure pivotally mounted on said housing adjacent the rear thereof and adjacent its upper end, a second article-dis- I playing structure pivotally mounted on said housing adjacent its upper end and rearwardly of the pivot of said first article-displaying structure, each of said structures being manually swingable about its pivot between a generally upright article-displaying position and a generally horizontal position within said housing and adjacent its upper end, each of said structures being of a size to substantially close the upper end of the housing when said structure is in its generally horizontal position, said second structure overlying and being supported on said first structure when both of said structures are in their generally horizontal positions, and means for releasably retaining each of such structures in its generally upright position, said first article-displaying structure being provided with a series of vertically spaced, channel-shaped, transversely disposed article-supporting ledges and said second article-displaying structure being provided with a plurality of apertures to form a pegboard portion for article-supporting purposes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 912,832 2/1909 Dullye et al. 312310 1,005,568 10/1911 McKnight 19016 1,577,091 3/1926 Ahlstedt 312-235 2,401,526 6/1946 Ullman 312290 X 2,604,373 7/1952 Beriou et al 3l2-313 X OTHER REFERENCES Simonsen Metal Products Company, 1961, Tool Caddy Folder (publication).

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

11. AN ARTICLE DISPLAY CABINET, COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING AN OPEN UPPER END, A FIRST ARTICLE-DISPLAYING STRUCTURE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING ADJACENT THE REAR THEREOF, AND ADJACENT ITS UPPER END, A SECOND ARTICLE-DISPLAYING STRUCTURE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING ADJACENT ITS UPPER END AND REARWARDLY OF THE PIVOT OF SAID FIRST ARTICLE-DISPLAYING STRUCTURE, EACH OF SAID STRUCTURES BEING MANUALLY SWINGABLE ABOUT IS PIVOT BETWEEN A GENERALLY UPRIGHT ARTICLE-DISPLAYING POSITION AND A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND ADJACENT ITS UPPER END, EACH OF SAID STRUCTURES BEING OF A SIZE TO SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSE THE UPPER END OF THE HOUSING WHEN SAID STRUCTURE IS IN ITS GENERALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION, SAID SECOND STRUCTURE OVERLYING AND BEING SUPPORTED ON SAID FIRST STRUCTURE WHEN BOTH OF SAID STRUCTURE ARE IN THEIR GENERALLY HORIZONTAL POSITIONS, AND MEANS FOR RELEASABLY RETAINING EACH OF SUCH STRUCTURES IN ITS GENERALLY UPRIGHT POSITION, THE RETAINING MEANS FOR ONE OF SUCH STRUCTURES BEING OF SWINGABLE FORM AND THE RETAINING MEANS FOR THE OTHER OF SUCH STRUCTURES BEING OF SLIDABLE FORM.

Images