US1703477A - Store service - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 26, 1929.

T. L. CONDER STORE SERVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 19, 1925 Feb. 26; 1929.

- 1,703,477 T. L. CONDER STORE SERVICE I Filed Feb. 19, 1925 2' Sheets-Sheet 2' Draw-tow ado M 4 Patented la. 26, 1929. I

UNITED v STATES.

I 1,703,417 PATENT'WOFFICE'. I

THOMAS L. comma, OF COLUMBIA, sour CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR or FORTY-NINE one YHUNDREDLHS T0 ARTHUR w. HAMBY, or COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.

s'ronn SERVICE. a

h uauon med February 19,1925. Serial No. 10,260.

This invention relates to an improvement in stores, particularly those engaged in vending SllCll' COllllIlOClltiGS as groceries wherein it has been found possible to do anincreased business with a minimum of overhead, by the use of a systematic arrangement.

At the present time, the management of stores operated on a self service plan 15 very Seriously concernedvwith the damage and theft occasionedthrough handling of the goods bycustomers. This undesirable feature is overcome in the present invention, which requires clerks to attend to customers wants and at the same time provides for a very adequate display. i

It has always been noticeable, and particularly so in grocery stores, that a customer often has to carry a basket fullof merchandise about the store. To eliminate this and make the customer as comfortable as pos-v By reason of the location and character of business, it is frequently necessary to'employ an arrangement whereby two distinct groups of customers may be caredfor at the same time. The invention is easily applied for this purpose and the display and storage structure for the goods has been foundto be quite eflicient. v Referring to the drawings: I Figure 1 is atop plan View of the storeembodyingthe present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on line 22 of Figure 1. s

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1'.

Figure 4 is a view in transverse section of one of the shelf sections. I 1

Figure 5 is a view showing a carrier handle with a pulley mechanism secured thereto and engaging a cable. a l Figure 6 is a View of a trip mechanism employed at one end of a return cable. In the drawings, I have illustrated a store comprising side walls 10 and 11. The front of the store is provided with vestibules :12, between which is arranged a suitable show case 13. The vestibules are provided with entrances and exits having gates 14 and 15 arranged to swing in opposite directions so that the customers will enter by one of the gates 14 andlwill leave by the adjacent gate 15 I A partition v16 is arranged at the rear of the store and is provided with suitable gates 17 leading into a supply room 18., These gates may be provided with lockstoprevent anyone but authorized persons from gaining entrance to'the supply chamber.

. Arran ed centrally ofthestore is a series of paralliel shelves 19 or suitable supporting means for articles of merchandise. Upon reference to Figure 1 it will be seen thatthe shelves l9 consist of sections 20-and 21 ar-.

ranged at right anglesto each other, the

apices of the [angles extending toward the front of the store. These shelves are divided vertically by a partition 22 as shown in Figure 4, sothat' the shelves are formedinto front and rear portions 23 and 24 for a purpose which will be presently described, Atthis point,'however, it maybe stated that the "portion 23 constitutes the display section while the portion 24 is designed to receive the staple articles and any other stock for which there is no need ofdi'splay.

The angular and parallel arrangement of the'shelving permits of an economical utilization of store space without in the least detracting from the value of the shelves as a meansof display or for stock purposes. F urther,'it is possiblefor the clerks to move about the shelving quickly and easily so that the service will be rapid' On opposite sides ofthe shelving are ar ranged counters 25 which extend from a point adjacent the frontfof the store toward the rear where they are joined by a transverse counter 26 having hinged upwardly, swinging gates 27 thereon. At the front of the store, the counters 25 each terminate adjacent a bin or receptacle 28 which are conveniently arranged in the Vestibules and contain a suitable supply of carriers, as will be presently described. It will be observed that the shelves 21 and 22 are arranged at an acute angle to the counters so that customers passing along the counters will readily see any goods displayed in the external sections 23 of saidshelving. I

By. reason of the angular disposition ofthe shelves to each other and to the counters as just described, it willbe clear that a display of luxuries, new delicacies or specials may be easily seen by patronswhen placed in the external sections i23-of the shelves. Articles of a staple nature will be disposed in the rear portions 24 of the shelving, as a customer will usually call for this type of inerchandise and there is generally no need for its display.

It will be understood that clerks are stationed behind the counters at suitable intervals, who attend the customers wants, so that handling of the goods by customers, and possible theft, is eliminated while at the same time the transaction is speeded up.

The spaces between the counters 25 and the walls of the store are divided by a partition 29 forming two aisles or passageways 30 and 31, respectively. Since the aisle structure and associated parts is the same on both sides of the store, only one will be described.

The aisle 30, adjacent the counter 25, is closed at its entrance end by a turn-stile 32 which may be turned in one direction only, that is, to permit a customer to enter the aisle 30. The customer after entering the aisle30 will pass along the counter toward the rear of the store, purchasing articles of the clerks, and must pass a cashierss station 33. The customer then leaves the store through the aisle 31, but, if for any reason it is desired to delay, benches 34 are arranged adjacent the Walls of the store for the convenience andcomfort of the patrons.

In orderto facilitate the customers passage through the store and to eliminate the necessity of the customer carrying a basket full of heavy merchandise, cables 35 are supported upon the counters 25 by means of suitable standards 36. These cables are arranged at a suitable distance above the counter both with relation to the customer and to the clerks who are behind the counter so as to be within convenient reach. Referring to Figure 1, the bins or receptacles 28'are adapted to contain baskets or other carriers 37 the handles of which are provided with suitable pulleys 38, as shown in Figure 5. The pulleys 38 are of a type readily attachable and removable from thecables 35.

Thus, a customer enters the store, takes a basket from one of the bins and places it on the cable 35 and has merely to push the basket over the cable each time travel is resumed along the aisle 30 to the cashiers station. Since the present invention requires that clerks be stationed at suitable intervals behind the counter, obviously, the passage of a customer through the store is considerably speeded up by reason of this conveyor structure.

Furthermore, one customer may readily 7 pass another in the aisle 30 by detaching the carrier from the cable and replacing it at a desired point in advance or in rear of the intermediate purchaser.

As has been previously referred to, the cashiers station is arranged at the rear of the store and it will be quite clear that after having made the desired purchases, and being at the end of the aisle 30, a customer must pass the cashier. The cable 35 extends to a point adjacent the cashiers desk and when the customer reaches this point the cashier merely removes the basket, empties the contents, and computes the cost of the purchases. The customer then gathers upthe merchandise and leaves the store by the aisle 31, adjacent the side wall.

Arranged to extend above the cable 35 and front a point adjacent the cashiers desk to each of the bins, is a second cable 39. This cable is supported at the rear by the partition 16 and is inclined toward the front of the store, terminating over the bin 28. At its end adjacent the bin the cable is supported by a standard 40 and is provided with 'a trip mechanism 41. This trip mechanism consists merely of rolling over the end of the cable 39, as at 42. Thus, the cashier takes the empty, baskets, places them on the inclined cable and by slight initial pressure they are caused to roll, by gravity, down the cable, and by means of the trip mechanism, ultimately drop into the bin so that a fresh supply of carriers will always be available.

It will be readily understood that in some cases, as for example, in a relatively narrow store, that the double structure disclosed will not be possible of application. In such event, only one section of parallel shelves will be employed and similarly a single counter and carrier mechanism. lit will be seen that I have provided an improvement in stores which is capable of a ready andeiiicient application, at the same time being of such a nature as to speedup the transactions without being the least complicated or distasteful to either the customer or store attendants.

I claim:

1. In a store, pairs of parallel entrance and exit aisles extending on each side of the store, a receptacle station at the forward end of each entrance aisle and extending toward the interior of the store, a cashiers station between the rear ends of said aisles, the central part of the store between said aisles, cashiers and receptacle stations being occupied by a series of independent parallel V-shaped shelves, counters between said shelves and the adjacent entrance aisles, a conveyor system mounted on said counters whereby receptacles may be. manually propelled above the,

counters from the entrance to the cashiers desk and returned by gravity to the receptacle station.

2. In a store, a pair of entrance and exit aisles arranged upon opposite sides thereof, gates at the entrance to the store permitting entrance through the-entrance aisles and exit through the exit aisles, the front of the store between said gates providing space for a show case, and for bins in the rear of said show case for containing carrying baskets, said bins be ing arranged adjacent the entrance aisles" upon opposite sides of the store, a plurality of parallel angular shelves arranged in alignment and extending from front to rear of' the store, counters extending from front to rear of the store on opposite sides of said shelves and forming with said bins and show case an enclosure for the shelves, thesaid counters being arranged adjacent the entrance aisles and the shelves being arranged at an angle to said counters whereby goods are visible from said aisles upon opposite sides of the store, a cashiers station at the rear of the store in direct communication with said entrance aisles and which a pure forming an enclosure with said counters for said shelves at the rear of thestore, a conveyor system mounted upon said counters and extendlng from the basket bins to the cashiers station, said s stem comprising a track upon li aser may place a basket from one of the bins and move it as he passes along the counter to immediately adjacent the cashiers station, and a second track whereby the cashier may return an empty basket by gravity to either of said bins.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS L. CONDER.

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