US2149769A - Reflector for display cases - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1939. C F, HOFFMAN J 2,149,769

REFLECTOR FOR DISPLAY CASES .Filed Nov. 4, 1937 2 Sheets-sheaf l g ,2 K5 a; /5 /.f- (a 7 Match 7, 1939, c HOFFMAN- 2,149,769

REFLECTOR FOR DISPLAY CASES Filed Nov. 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. I

Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES E f E REFLECTOR FOR DISPLAY CASES Application November 4, 1937, Serial No. 172,851

2 Claims.

This invention relates to reflectors for illuminated display cases of that type in which a reflector is positioned longitudinally at the top of the front of the case to house and conceal illuminating means and to reflect the light downwardly therefrom and into the casethrough the front transparent panel thereof.

One object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for detachably securing the reflector in place so that it may be readily removed when required to allow convenient cleaning of the reflector or lamps, repairs of the reflector or supporting parts and replacement of burned out or defective lamps, also to admit of the easy application and removal of lamps of any type desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide reflector supporting means allowing circulation of cool air between the reflector and the case and which will hold the reflector out of direct contact with the case to prevent heat transmission from the reflector to the case.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed,,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a show case provided with a reflector and lamp and reflector supporting means embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 through the reflector and a portion of the display case, showing the reflector secured in position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective view of parts shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the locking strip bent back to release the reflector for removal. I

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 showing the retaining member fitted in position to hold the clamping washer spaced from the bracket plate to facilitate removal of the reflector.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6-6, Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a view of the retaining member.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention as herein disclosed for exemplification, I designates the top and 2 the front of a refrigerator or other display case, the top as shown having a metallic top plate 3 and the front being provided with glass panels 4 arranged one in rear of the other and providing a dead air or insulating space therebetween. The topplate 3 terminates in a forward upwardly directed rim edge 5.

Secured to the top of the show case at the front thereof above the glass panels are supporting brackets'fi arranged'in suitably spaced relation longitudinally of the front of the display case. Each of these brackets has a fastening arm 1 suitably secured to the top of the case and a supporting arm 8, the latter-named arm being arranged a short distance in advance of the front of the case and parallel therewith, or at the same angle of inclination as the front of the show case- The fastening arms of these brackets may have flanged upper ends 9 extending into and reinforcing the rim portions 5 of the top plate 3. The brackets form supports for a small inner reflector l and have a lamp wire conduit 1 l and sockets E2 to receive the illuminating lamps l3, which are disposed at desired distances apart across the front of the display case. These parts are enclosed or housed by the outer or main reflector l4, and preferably the undersurface of the end reflector l9 and the inner surface of the enclosing reflector I l are coated or covered with alight absorbing paint or material which will prevent bands of light from the lamps being reflected to and centered in the polished surface of the glass panel.

The reflector M is of concavo-convex form or of a generally arcuate curvature between its upper and lower edges and may be made of metal or other suitable material and have a finished outer surface. It is provided at its upper edge with a 'downturned flange l which overhangs the rim 5 of the top plate 3 and is disposed in spaced relation thereto to provide an intervening air space or passage it. The reflector i4 is disposed in spaced relation to the front of the show case and to the inner reflector l6, and in this inner reflector H) are provided perforations or air passages I'd, allowing cool air to circulate upwardly through the reflectors and out at the space It to keep the reflectors and bracket elements cool and to prevent transmission of heat from the lamps to the glass panels and the top of the display case. The parts of the brackets and main reflector are also maintained out of contact with the top plate 3 to prevent transmission of heat directly from the former to the latter. I

The bracket plates 8 are provided each with a forwardly projecting supporting and fastening stud l8 and the reflector l4 carries a bracket plate l9 having an opening of key-hole shape therein for cooperation with the stud, the elongated portion of the opening being upwardly directed. Each of these bracket plates I9 is fastened in any suitable and secure manner to the upper and lower edges of the reflector M in such position as to lie in contact with the coacting racket arm 8 when the reflector I4 is in applied position.

The reflector I4 is adapted to be applied to the bracket plates 8 by disposing it so as to bring the circular portions of the openings 20 into alinement with the studs 18 and then moving the reflector toward the front of the display case until the bracket plates l9 abut against the bracket arms 8, after which by downward movement of the reflector I4 in a plane parallel with the front of the display case the studs are brought into fastening-position within the narrow upper elongated portions of the openings 20. To release the reflector I4 from the bracket arms 8, the reverse movement is imparted thereto, that is to say, the reflector I4 is shifted upwardly to bring the studs I8 from the narrow elongated portions of the openings down into the circular portions of said openings, and then removing the reflector outwardly or away from the front of the show case so as to clear the studs I8.

Fitted on each stud I8 is an outer retaining washer 2| and an inner clamping'head or washer 22. A coiled spring 23 surrounds the stud between these washers and normally holds them pressed apart, the washer 2| being held from displacement by a cotter pin or key 24. These washers are of sufficient diameter to bridge across the elongated portion of the opening 20 but of sufficiently small diameter to pass through the circular portion of the opening, so as to allow the bracket plate I9 to be fitted over upon and removed from the studs when the reflector I 4 is in proper position for application and removal. When the reflector I4 is in applied position the clamping head or washer of each stud bears against the bracket members IS on the reflector M and clamps said bracket members I9 to the bracket members 8, thus holding the reflector I l securely in position against casual displacement.

In order to prevent any possibility of the reflector I l being accidentally displaced by upward movement a locking member is pref erably provided. This conveniently may assume the form of a strip of bendable sheet metal fastened permanently at its lower end to the bracket plate I9 and provided at its upper or free end with a bent portion or flange 26 forming a head to bear against the washer 22 when the latter is in clamping position and also forming a finger piece by which said locking strip may be readily manipulated. When the strips 25 are in look ing position they hold the reflector I4 from upward or shifting movement on the bracket arms 8, but by bending the locking members outwardly as shown in Fig. 4 they may be removed from the path of the studs to allow the reflector I 4 to be shifted for removal in an obvious manner. The locking strips are preferably made of a metal which may be repeatedly bent without liability of fracture so that they may be employed without renewal for an indefinite period.

In order to enable the reflector I 4 to be removed with great convenience, and without interference from the washer 22 and spring 23, it is desirable to provide a means for holding the washer 22 in released position and the spring 23 in compressed condition during the releasing action, as well as during a subsequent re-application of the reflector. To this end I provide a retainer in the form of a U-shaped member 21 one of which may be slipped into position about each stud between each bracket plate 8 and coacting bracket plate I9, to hold the washer 22 spaced from the bracket plate 8 and the spring 23 compressed, as shown in Fig. 5,'so as to permit convenient up and down sliding movements and inward and outward movements of the bracket plates I9 during releasing and applying actions, as will be readily understood. These members 21 may be removed by forcing them out of position when the reflector I4 is fltted in place on the studs and about to be slid downwardly to bring the studs into engagement with the elongated portions of the openings 20, or the structure may be such that the members 21 will be automatically displaced on this part of the applying movement of the reflector I4.

It will be seen from the foregoing that by the construction of the supporting brackets and clamping means described the reflector M may be readily applied for use when desired and removed whenever it is desired to clean the surfaces of the reflectors or repair the reflectors or parts of the supporting means or to make changes in the wiring connections or to replace worn out or defective lamps. When the reflector is applied it will be securely and yieldingly clamped in position against chattering movement and held firmly against possibility of casual displacement, while at the same time through the construction described a current of air is allowed to flow between the front of the case and the reflector I 4 and about the lamps and brackets to keep the same cool and present the transmission of heat through these parts to any portion of the display case.

While the construction shown and described herein is prefered, it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form, details of construction and arrangement of the parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim is: V

1. In means for detachably connecting a reflector with a display case, bracket members on the display case having fastening arms disposed in advance of and lying parallel with the plane of the front of the case, a perforate inside reflector carried by said bracket members, illuminating means carried by said bracket members, a concavo-convex main reflector lying outside of and partially enclosing said illuminating means and inside reflector, bracket members on the main reflector, and means for holding said bracket members, detachably connected and maintaining the main reflector in spaced relation to the display case to provide for the flow of a current of air between the reflector and case.

2. The combination with a display case having a top portion provided with an upstanding front rim edge, of bracket members on the front of the display case having supporting portions lying in advance of said rim edge, illuminating means carried by said bracket members including an in ner stationary reflector arranged to reflect light from the illuminating means at an outward and downward angle with relation to the front of the display case and provided with air passages therein, a main reflector disposed in front of the illuminating means and inner stationary reflector and having bracket members for engagement with the supporting portions of the first-named bracket members, and fastening members for interlocking said bracket members together, said main reflector having an upper edge portion disposed in spaced relation to the rim edge of the top plate to provide an air passage therebetween when said reflector is supported in position by the bracket members.

' CYRUS F. HOFFMAN.

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