US2174942A - Display device - Google Patents

Description

R. L. JOYCE DISPLAY DEVICE Oct. 3, 1939.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 7, 1937 w s M R 3 2 N Ll". E 5 v m L" 4 .L 3 2 l 0 j 4. 2. 4 4.,/ K u lhlliv.. .lxlflll 6 0 M rl-- 5 3 1. 1-1i L llll --.Pink ,4 ,e 0 O 7 n 6 u 2 .n50 1 O O 8 n 2 l' Z 4 2 6,113 u W.I1\\5 4 6/ n 4 u .1 3 1 f1/3 8 6 6 4 J lllmI .VL f, m f... M 6 4 i 4 ATTORNEY R. L. JOYCE .DISPLAY DEVICE Oct.A 3, 1939.

Filed July 7, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Oct. 3, 1939;,

R. l.. .uoYcfslF DISPLAY DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 7, 1937 NVENT I@ ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to display devices, and more particularly to devices for displaying articles, such as Samples of fabric and the like.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide a display device in which the hinged shelves, used for carrying the displays of merchandise, are adapted to be arranged parallel with one another and are each movable by longitudinal displacement.

In carrying out the above object it is a further object of my invention to provide each Shelf with guiding means which means are associated with the shelf on opposite ends of one edge thereof, the guiding means being movable along tracks, for guiding the shelf during the longitudinal displacement thereof and being pivoted, with respect to the track for allowing partial rotational movement of the shelf around the guiding means when such movement is desired.

It is a further object to provide guiding means for each shelf, which means are disposed at opposite ends of the one edge of the shelf, such guiding means being associated with one another.

so that they are substantially unitary and so that they rotate, or pivot, concomitantly during longitudinal displacement of the Shelf.

It is a further object to provide spacing means for spacing the shelves one from another when they are in the stacked position, the spacing means in some cases being integral with the aforementioned guiding means.

It is a further object to provide each shelf with means for attaching the displays thereto, said means permitting ready removal of, or addition to, the displays on the shelf.

It is a further object to provide each shelf with a cross bar which is disposed so as to be slidable across the shelf for further retaining the displays in position.

It is a still further object to provide a label holder for each shelf, which holder is movably carried by the cross bar.

Other and further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred forms of embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the display device with the shelves in the stacked position;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device, the presdotted lines, in a revolved position and a fourth shelf on the base of the device;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, of one end of a track showing the means utilized for securing the same to the base;

Fig, '7 is a top view of one of the guide means;

Fig. 8 is a side view of Fig. "I showing the offset spacing means provided on the guide ring bracket;

Fig. 9 is a view of a shelf handle and support spacer, taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 4, the view also showing the adjustable rod for preventing displacement of the displays;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side view of the label holder;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line Il--Il of Fig. 6 showing a reenforcing plate;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line I2-I2 of Fig. 9 showing the adjustable rod and one support bracket therefor;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line l3-l3 of Fig. 4 showing the spring fastening means for the displays;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a display device employing another form of guiding means;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view of the reverse side of the shelf shown in Fig. 14 with part of the shelf cut away to show the guide bushings and guide rod;

Fig. '16 is a fragmentary View on an enlarged scale of one end of the guide rod utilized in Fig. 15 showing one of the guide bushings therefor;

Figl 1'7 is a Section of the rolled edge of the shelf taken on line H-I'I of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view of another type of track showing one end of the guiding means;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line I9--I9 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken on line 20-20 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary side view of still another form of track and guiding means, showing the mounting bracket for attaching the track to the base; and

Fig. 22 is a sectional View taken on line 22-22 of Fig. 21.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 12, a sheet metal base 20 is utilized to support and carry the various parts of a display device 2|. The base 20 comprises four vertical side walls 22 and a top section 24. The base 20 is fabricated, in its preferred form, so that the top 24 is at an angle to the horizontal, to permit more ready examination of the merchandise to be displayed. The side walls 22 are bent inwardly at the lower edges thereof to form flanges 26. Suitable downwardly extending projections 21 are formed in the flanges 26 to act as gliders for the device 2l so that the device 2| may be easily slid along a counter or a floor.

Two tracks 28 and 30, of substantially inverted U shape metal tubing, are mounted on the top 24 and extend substantiallytthe length of the base at the front and back sides thereof and comprise two upwardly extending portions 29 and a connecting member 3|. and 30 are secured to the top 24 of base 20 by screws 32, lwhich screws pass through'holes 34 in the top 24 and are threaded into `.bushings v,3.6. These bushings are pressed into the open ends of the tubular tracks 28 and 30; The bushings 36 may be slightly tapered, and knurled as at 31 to hold the bushings within the tubes Vand to prevent them from turning. If Ydesired the bushings 36 may be staked within the tubes after they have been pressed into position. Thus the screws 32 attach .the tracks 28 and Srigidly to the base y20 to `form a substantially unitary frame structure therewith. In some cases, triangular shaped reenforcing members or plates 40, as shown in Fig. 11, are spot-welded to the underside of the top 24, at the four corners thereof.V These plates reenforce .the top 24 at the ends of thetracks when the device is to be used `for heavy displays, or when a light gage metal is used in the fabrication vof the base 20.

`In this case the holes- 34 extend through th-e reenforcing members 40 as well as through the top 24. If desired, further reenforcements may be provided for the base 2l].such as channels formed in the top 24 or in some similar and well known manner.

Thetracks` 28 and 30 are utilized to guide a plurality of display carrying shelves 42. The shelves 42 are associated with the tracks 28 and 36 by ring-like guid-e members 44. The rings 44 are passed over the tracksfZB and 3D before the tracks are secured to the base and are freely slidable thereon. Two such rings ..44 are provided for each of the shelves .42. TheI guide. rings 44 are each pivotally journalled on a bracket 4.6 by a screw 48. Brackets 46 are suitably attached to the extremities of one edge of each of the shelves. The brackets 46 are offset Vas at 52 so that the bearings for the rings 44 are lower than the associated shelves 42. This construction is utilized as a means for spacing one shelf from another at one side thereof.'

Handles 54, preferably formed of sheet metal, are suitably attachedto the` shelves 42 at the side opposite to the edge which carries the guide rings 44. The handles 54 facilitate movement of the shelves when the .device is being used. Each of the handles 54 also include a Ufshaped spacing element 56. The depth to which each spacer 56 extends is substantially equal to the depth to the offset 52 Aof a bracket 46. Thus the shelves 42 are-parallelly spaced from one another by the offsets 52 of brackets 46 and by spacers 56 of the' handles 54.

vEach of the shelves 42 is provided with a clip arrangement 60 'disposedalong one side thereof. The clip 68 is hinged on a rod 6| which is pivoted to the shelf 42 by rolled over portions ofA the shelf 42 (not shown). One or more coiled springs e2 are utilized lto maintain the @11p to inthe position shown in Fig. 13. The spring orsprings 62 are suitably wound around the'rod'l 'and haveA one tail 63 bearingon the clip 60 and the other tail 63 bearing Hon; the underside of Athe shelf 42. Samples, forexamplefabrics, may be held in place onthe vshelf'by the ,use of this The tracks.. 28 Y a center.

spring clip arrangement, and when desired, may be easily removed.

Adjustable rods 68 are also provided for the shelves 42 and are utilized to further hold the fabrics -in place. The rods 68 are preferably disposed as inv Fig. 3. The rods 68 are bent on either end thereof to form a bell crank portion 64 which is journalled in an upright support 65 that is carried by the shelf on either side thereof.

The supports 65 are provided with a plurality of inwardly formed protrusions 66 disposed in a circular arc with the bearing for the rod 68 as Thus the bell crank portion of the rod 68 is held between two of the protrusions 66 at either end thereof and in this manner may be yieldingly held, due vto the inherent spring lof the rod, in any one of a plurality of adjustable positions lto accommodate varying thicknesses `of displays on the shelf 42 or to allow removal .of the displays.

Label holders Mare rotatably associated with Vthe cross bars 68. 'This vis accomplished by merek ly rolling one side of the holders 14 around the bars 68 as at 16 in Fig. ,10. The label holders maybe made in anysuitable form. In the present embodiment of label holder, three edges A coverll is provided for the device and is as- -socated with the tracks in the same manner as are the shelves 42. The cover is similar in most respects to one of the shelves 42 except for a downwardly extending leg or side portion 82.

VThe leg 82 is cut at an angle at the edge thereof as at 8i, so that when the cover is in the open position (see Fig. 5) with edge 8l resting on a flat surface, the top of the cover 88 is at substantially Vthe same slope as at the top 24 of the base 20.

In use of the device 2|, all the shelves 42 are disposed one above the other and between the tracks 28 and 30 with .the bottom shelf resting on the base 28. When it is .desirable to display the material carried by the device, the cover 88 .is placed in position to the right of the base 20 .gitudinally to the right until the guide rings have passed the highest point of the connecting members 3| of the tracks, at' which instant the shelves wi-ll move easily to the open position due Yto gravity. All of the-shelves 42 may be displayed successively .in this maner. It will be noted that the shelves 42 are not .turned but are displaced longitudinally with the display'surface always visible vand always substantially parallel to the top 24. -If it is desired to compare a sample that is ona shelf in the open position with a sample that is covered by other of the shelves in the closed position, it is merely necessary to turn or rotate the shelves that are covering the desired sample. -This `is accoml plished by revolving `the shelves about their guide .rings to ,assume .the dotted line Aposition'shown P plus .apyjtw Smpls in the display device can be compared simultaneously without removing them from the device.

Another embodiment of construction is shown in Figs. 14 to 17, wherein a single rod 83 is utilized as a guide means and which includes an eye portion 84 on either end thereof. 'I'he eye portion 84 is disposed to be slidable over the tracks 28 and 30. The rod 83 is journalled in a plurality of bushings and 86 which are held by the rolled edge of the shelf 42 as shown in Fig. 17, the bushings preferably being spot welded in place. The bushings 86, which are disposed at either end of the shelf, have a shoulder portion 8B', at the outer end thereof, that abuts the eye 84. This shoulder 86 provides a smooth bearing surface and eliminates any possibility of the eye catching on the shelf. The rod 83 is freely rotatable within the bushings 85 and 86 which permit ready displacement of the shelf. This embodiment has the advantage of concomitant rotational movement of the guide members, since both eyes 84 are formed on one rod. For this reason the present construction eliminates weaving of the guide rings and shelf when the shelf is being displaced which possibility is present when small diameter tracks are utilized.

It is apparent that if desired, the bushings 85 and 86 may be spot welded to U shaped shell metal straps, which in turn may be welded to the shelf; in this manner the rolled edge of the shelf can be eliminated when desired.

In the present embodiment, the spacing of the shelves 42 is accomplished by the supports 65 for the adjustable rod 68 and the longitudinal clip 69. Obviously any other suitable spacing means may be utilized.

Another embodiment of track construction is shown in Figs. 18 to 20 wherein tracks 81 are utilized and are of substantially C shape in cross section and having openings or grooves 9| therein. The shelves 42 are provided with rods 90 attached along one side thereof, which rods have been undercut near their extremities as at 92. The ends of the rods beyond the undercuts 92 provide ball portions 94. In the assembled form, the undercuts 92 slide within grooves 9| in the tracks and the balls 94 slide within the hollow tracks and prevent the rods from being displaced from the tracks 81, since the balls 94 are of larger diameter than the grooves 9| in the C shaped tracks. The tracks 81 may be threaded at the ends thereof, as at 96, and may be secured to the top 24 by two nuts 98 disposed on either side of the top 24. I'hus the shelves are displaceable along the tracks due to the slidable engagement of the rods 90 with the tracks.

Another embodiment of track construction is shown in Figs. 21 and 22 wherein the tracks |90 are rolled or cast and each forms an inner track |02. Rollers |04, one of which is shown, are each provided with a circumferential groove |06, which groove is of inverted configuration to the inner track and which engages the inner track |92 to guide the movement of the rollers |94 along the tracks. The rollers |04 are rotatably carried on the opposite extremities of rods |0| which rods are secured to one side of each of the shelves 42, as has been explained. The tracks |99 are secured to the top 24 by brackets |88 which are screwed to the top by screws I9.

In all of the embodiments, the shelves 42 bearing the displays can be examined in successive order without the necessity of turning the shelves and in this manner, the display being displaced is visible throughout the entire displacing operation. This is advantageous in that it is time saving for the clerk and the customer. Also, in view of the fact that one or any number of shelves can be swung to the left, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, any two pieces of the material in the displace device can be placed side by side for comparison for deciding on color scheme.

Another advantage of my present invention is that a plurality of samples may be carried by each shelf and due to the fact that the shelf can be maintained in a substantially horizontal position throughout its displacement, the samples will not be overturned. Thus for example all samples of the same pattern but of different colors or similar patterns may be attached to a single shelf and all displaced simultaneously while insuring quick handling without the disturbance of upsetting the samples. Preferably the upper samples are cut away as at H2 in such manner so that the next lower sample is also visible which in turn is cut away as at ||3 so that the next lower sample is also visible etc.

The bar 68 holds all of the samples on a shelf in position when the shelf is swung to the left as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. Also it can be movably adjusted so that the upper samples can be thrown back to more clearly show the samples therebelow.

While the forms of embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A display device for a plurality of movable display shelves adapted to be stacked in one position and removed and stacked in an adjacent position for displaying, comprising in combination, means forming a base; a plurality of shelves adapted to be stacked on said base; means forming a guide track, said track comprising two sections rising with respect to the base, said sections being spaced from one another at least the width of the shelves, and a track section interconnecting the rising sections; and means pivotally connecting one end of each of said shelves to the guide track whereby the opposite end of said shelves are freely movable, said connecting means being movable along the guide track.

2. A display device for a plurality of movable display shelves adapted to be stacked in one position and removed and stacked in an adjacent position for displaying, comprising in combination, a base member having means forming a pair of guide tracks on opposite sides of the base, said tracks each comprising two sections rising with respect to the base, said sections being spaced from one another at least the width of the shelves, and a section interconnecting the rising sections; a plurality of stacked shelves disposed on said base and between the rising sections of the guide tracks; and means adjacent one end of each of said shelves and on opposite edges thereof for pivotally connecting the shelves to the guide tracks, said means being movable along the guide tracks.

ROBERT L. JOYCE.

I CERTIFICATE OF' CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,17'Lh9lr2. october 5. 1939.

v -A ROBERT L. JOYCE.

It is hereby certified that lerror appears in the printed specification of the above nwnbered patent requiring correction as follows Page 5, second column, line )48, claim l, strike out the word "`track" and that the said Letters 'Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform te the record ef the case 1n the Patent office.

"Signed and sealed this' 19th day of December, A. D. 1959.

Henry IVan Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents..

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