US2237080A

US2237080A - Store furniture

Info

Publication number: US2237080A
Application number: US316249A
Authority: US
Inventors: Muse Paschal
Original assignee: C D TOUNSLEY
Current assignee: C D TOUNSLEY
Priority date: 1940-01-29
Filing date: 1940-01-29
Publication date: 1941-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 1958-04-01

Description

April 1, 1941. U 2.237.080

STORE FURNITURE Filed Jan. 29, 1940 2 sheets Sheet 1 April 1, 1941. MUSE 2,237.08!)

STORE FURNITURE Filed Jan. 29, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In ventor flandwae M A iiorneys Patented Apr. 1, 1941 sromz FURNITURE Paschal Muse, Perry, Ga., assignor of one-half to C. D. Tounsley, Perry, Ga.

Application January 29, 1940, Serial No. 316,249

2 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to store furniture and more particularly to a counter for use in stores, particularly in those types of stores commonly known as self-service stores. v

An object of the present; invention is to provide a counter so equipped as to facilitate the checking up of the purchases made, the facilitating of making change for the customer, and for the bagging or wrapping of the purchased articles; and the invention, together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a counter embodying the features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawings it will be seen that in accordance with the present invention there is provided a main counter indicated generally by the reference numeral 5.

The counter 5 may be constructed in any suitable manner, but in the present instance is shown as being constructed of a suitable frame structure having panels secured thereto to present a counter of finished and pleasing appearance.

In the present instance the main counter 5 is characterized by being constructed to present at one end thereof a platform 6 on to which are unloaded from a basket or the like the selected articles purchased and from which platform such articles, by an attendant, are transferred to an endless conveyor I mounted on and extending longitudinally of the counter 5 intermediate the ends of the counter.

The conveyor 1 may be of any suitable construction, and in the present instance is shown as consisting of an endless web trained over rollers 8 suitably mounted in the frame structure of the counter; one of the said rollers being adjustable for adjusting the tension on the web, and to this end is provided a threaded lug 9 that is accommodated in' a suitable guide In. Swivelly connected with one end of the guide i0 is an adjusting screw II that has threaded connection with the lug 9 so that by turning the screw H in either of two directions, the said one roller 8 may be adjusted relative to the other roller, for the purpose above stated.

For supporting the top run of the conveyor 1,

the counter is suitably equipped with a backboard or platen 52.

Also to protect the web of the conveyor and at the same time to serve to retain articles thereon the counter 5 at the top thereof is provided with a beading ii! that extends along two longitudinal sides of the counter and across the platform-equipped end of the counter as shown.

It is understood that the conveyor 1 may be operated by hand, or, and as shown, be driven from an electric motor I4; drive from the motor It being transmitted to one of the rollers 8, preferably the relatively stationary roller, through a series of belt and pulley drive connections best shown in Figures 2 and 3 and indicated generally by the reference numeral l5.

The motor I4 and belt and pulley drive connections I5 are hidden from view, a suitable compartment I6 being provided therefor as shown.

At the end thereof remote from the platform 6 the counter 5 is constructed to present what may be termed a bagging compartment or well ll, access to which may be had through an opening I8 in the rear of the counter, and an opening l9 at the top of the counter. Obviously the bag or other receptacle for the goods may be placed within the compartment i1 and as the goods on the conveyor 1 approach the compartment H, such goods may be readily removed from the conveyor and placed in such bag or analogous receptacle.

Preferably, in actual use, a second attendant will be employed at the compartment end ll of the counter for packaging or bagging the selected goods of the purchaser.

Spaced from and paralleling the rear side of the counter 5 is a longitudinally extending panel 20 that is preferably of the same height as the counter 5 and intermediate the ends thereof the panel 20 is connected with the main counter 5 through the medium of a relatively short counter-section 2| upon which may be placed the cash register, and a third attendant may be employed for attending to the computation of the sales and the collecting of the purchase price as well as the making of change for the customer.

As will be observed, the counter 5 is substantially hollow, and in addition to the compartment I6 is equipped with

shelves

22, 23 arranged in suitably provided compartments 24 and 25 at the respective opposite ends of the counter for the storage of bags and other accessories.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a counter embodying the features of the present invention will be found especially useful in such stores known generally as self-service" stores.

a In using the counter the purchaser approaches As the articles move on the conveyor 1 towards the bagging end ll of the counter, the attendant near the counter 2| and taking charge of the cash register may readily compute the cost of the purchases, and having so done make proper collection from the customer.

-Following the above, a third attendant at the end ll of the counter 5 will place the articles on the conveyor into a bag or other receptacle for the convenience of the purchaser. Thus the matter of completing a sale will be greatly facilitated.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility, manner of use, and advantages of a counter embodying the features of the present invention will be had without a more detailed description.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. As a new article of furniture, a store coun ter equipped at one end thereof and at a lower level with an article receiving platform and at an opposite end thereof with means for facilitating the bagging and wrapping of commodities, and an endless conveyor mounted on the counter 'and extending longitudinally thereof intermeditioned counter and said panel intermediate the respective opposite 7 ends of said first-named counter and said panel for supporting a cash register, said counter section forming a station substantially midway of the ends of the counter whereby a cash register attendant may compute the cost of commodities passing on the conveyor.

2. A store counter having at one end thereof a platform disposed below the top surface of the counter for the reception of commodities, said counter being provided at the opposite end thereof with a well open at the top and one side thereof for use in facilitating the bagging and wrapping of such commodities, and an endless conveyor forming substantially the top surface of the counter and extending from one end to the other end thereof to facilitates the transfer of commodities from the platform end of the counter to the well-equipped end thereof, the top of said well being flush with the top of said conveyor.

PASCHALMUSE.