US2252021A - Display basket - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 12, 1941. I J. T. MOREHOUSE DISPLAY BASKET Filed Aug. 13, 1938 Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY BASKET John T. Morehouse, Methuen, Mass.

Application August 13, 1938, Serial No. 224,763

5 Claims.

This invention relates to display baskets, and especially to baskets having a plurality of shelves or trays arranged one above the other.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a novel and improved display basket of this general description withsimple means for extending the lower shelves or trays with relation to the upper tray for purposes of display while the basket is held by one hand, said means then serving to maintain the lower trays in extended position, and also to return them to their original superimposed position when desired, and to lock the trays in this superimposed position until it is again desired to operate the basket for display.

By providing such a basket of light and simple construction readily operable while held in one hand without the necessity of placing the basket on a supporting surface at any time, the salesman is enabled to better display his wares, to bring them more intimately to the attention of his customer, and to facilitate inspection and examination by the customer.

With this and other objects in view as may hereinafter appear, the several features of the invention consist in the devices, combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, which together with the advantages to be obtained thereby will be readily understood by one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accom- 53 panying drawing, in which Fig. l is a perspective view of the basket in carrying position; Fig, 2 is an end elevation with the lower tray extended in display position; and Fig. 3 is an end elevation with the lower tray withdrawn under the upper tray in carrying position and locked in such position by the actuating device.

While the invention is herein embodied in a display basket having two trays, it will be understood that the several features of the invention are not limited in their application to the basket specifically illustrated, but may be equally applicable to other types of baskets having more than two trays.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the basket comprises two shelves or trays 4 and 6 supported one beneath the other by means of parallel supporting links 8 pivotally connected to the ends of the trays. A bail shaped handle it] is connected across the center portion of the upper tray 4 for supporting the basket in one hand while the basket is carried, operated and used for display purposes. The control and actuating mechanism comprises two pairs of toggle links 12 and M pivotally connected at their upper ends and connected together by a cross bar I6, the links M being pivotally connected to lugs IS on the rear side of the upper tray 4 and the links l2 being pivotally connected at their lower ends to lugs 25] on the rear side of the lower tray 6. The cross bar ['6 serves as an operating handle, and also to insure the simultaneous operation of the two pairs of toggle links l2 and It. This assembly of the two pairs of toggle links and cross bar serves to provide a balanced operation of the device to insure the projection of the lower tray without torsional or other undesirable strains on the parts, or twisting of the basket in the hand of the operator.

It will be noted that for the closed position of the basket shown in Fig. 3, the pivotal connections of links 8 with the upper tray, are forwardly disposed with relation to the pivotal connections with the lower tray, so that the parallel links 8 are inclined real-wardly, causing the weight of the lower tray to exert a combined downward and forward pull against the locking and supporting connections. In this position of the basket, the toggle links l2 and [4 have been moved to a substantially vertical locking position in which the cross bar or handle H5 and the pivotal connections between links i2 and M are located above and slightly beyond dead center position with relation to the pivotal supporting lugs l8 and 20. The lugs l3 project rearwardly from the upper tray 4 to insure such locking action. The operation of the lock thus provided to hold the trays in their superimposed vertical position, is made more secure by the particular manner of suspending the lower tray 4 on the links 8 above referred to, so that a forward pull is exerted upon the links 12 about their pivotal connection with the links M to engage the links i2 against the rear side of the upper tray 4.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated is particularly useful to door-to-door salesmen who will carry the basket by the handle II] in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. In this position the trays 4 and 6 are kept firmly locked in superimposed relation by the toggle link control and actuating mechanism so that the basket may be readily carried. In order to show the wares arranged on the trays 4 and 6, the salesman will hold the basket suspended in one hand by the handle l0, and by operating the cross bar handle ['6 with the other hand will move the lower tray 6 forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2. A slight pull rearwardly on the cross bar handle l6 unlocks the actuating mechanism,

and as the cross bar handle [6 swings back and down, the lower tray 6 is extended. The lower tray 6 can be readily kept in extended or forward position by the salesman by resting the cross bar handle it against his knee, leaving one hand free. Upon release of the pressure of the cross bar handle [6 against the salesmans knee, this cross bar handle may readily be swung back to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, returning the lower tray 6 to a position vertically beneath the tray 4 and locking it in this position for ready carrying.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown, and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A display basket comprising a plurality of trays arranged one above the other, parallel link connections supporting the trays one above the other in spaced relation to permit the advance of the lower of said trays forwardly in stepped relation to the upper of said trays, a handle for the basket secured to the upper of said trays and extending over the center portion thereof, and actuating mechanism for said basket comprising a pair of toggle links of unequal length pivoted to one another, the shorter of said links being pivotally connected to the rear side of the upper of said trays, and the longer of said links being pivotally connected to the rear side of the lower of said trays, a manually operable member supported by said links and located for movement therewith in a vertical plane extending transversely through the center portion of the basket and rearwardly thereof, the arrangement of said member and links being such that for a relatively raised position of the member the trays are superimposed one above the other, and for a depressed position of the member the lower tray is advanced from beneath the upper tray in stepped relation thereto, while said basket is supported solely by said handle and said member.

2. A display basket comprising a plurality of trays arranged one above the other, parallel link supporting connections between the trays to permit the advance of the lower of said trays forwardly in stepped relation to the upper of said trays, a handle secured to the upper tray, and actuating and locking mechanism for said basket comprising a pair of pivotally connected toggle links connected respectively to an upper and a lower tray arranged with the pivotal connection in a substantially dead center position above the respective connections with said trays to lock the trays in a vertically superimposed position, and operable to advance the lower of said trays from beneath the upper tray in stepped relation thereto while supported from said handle.

3. A display basket comprising two trays ar ranged one above the other, parallel link supporting connections between the trays to permit the advance of the lower of said trays forwardly in stepped relation to the upper tray, a handle secured to the upper tray, and actuating and locking mechanism for said basket comprising pivotally connected toggle links connected respectively to the rear sides of the lower and upper trays, said toggle links being arranged for a vertically superimposed position of the trays with the pivotal toggle connection in a substantially dead center locking position above the respective connections with the trays, and manually operable means for moving the pivotal connection of said toggle links to advance the lower of said trays from beneath the upper tray while supported from said handle.

4. A display basket comprising a plurality of trays arranged one above the other, parallel link supporting connections between opposite ends of said trays to permit the advance of the lower of said trays forwardly in stepped relation to the upper tray, a tranverse handle secured across the center portion of the upper tray, and actuating and locking mechanism for said basket comprising two pairs of pivotally connected toggle links connected respectively to the rear sides of the upper and lower trays on opposite sides of said handle, a cross piece connecting said pairs of toggle links to move as a unit, said toggle links being arranged for a vertically superimposed position of the trays with the pivotal connections between said toggle links in a substantially dead center locking position above the respective connections of the links with the trays, said toggle links being movable about the connection of said toggle links with the upper tray to advance the lower of said trays from beneath the upper tray while supported from said handle.

5. A display basket comprising two trays arranged one above the other, parallel link supporting connections between the trays having a pivotal connection with the upper tray at points forwardly disposed with relation to the connection thereof with the lower tray for a superimposed closed position of said trays, and actuating and locking mechanism for said basket comprising pivotally connected toggle links, a rearwardly extending pivotal support for one of said links on the upper tray, a pivotal support for the other of said links on the rear side of the lower tray, said toggle links being arranged for a vertically superimposed position of the trays with the pivotal connection between said toggle links in a substantially dead center looking position above the respective connections with the trays in which the toggle link connected to the lower tray is engaged against the rear side of the upper tray, and manually operable means for moving the pivotal connection of said toggle links rearwardly and down to advance the lower of said trays from beneath the upper tray while supported from said handle.

JOHN T. MOREHOUSE.

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