US2271689A - Illuminated display sign - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 3, 1942. E. M. FRrrz ILLUMINATED DISPLAY SIGN Filed Aug. 30, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /0 ff E F @zu EDWARD M. F/wz y M E 5 Feb. 3, 1942-. E, M, FRlTz 2,271,689

ILLUMINATED DISPLAY VSIGN Filed Agg. 3o, 1939 v 2 sheets-sheet 2 EDWARD/ Efe/rz Mgg.

Patented Feb. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE* 'y 2,271,689 i ILLUMINATED DISPLAY SIGN Edward M. Fritz, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Grand Rapids Cabinet Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application VAugust 30, 1939, Serial No. 292,603

Claims.

The present invention relates in general to advertising devices and is more particularly concerned with improvements in illuminated display signs, especially signs of this type which may be associated with storage cabinets such as used for the merchandising and dispensing of confections, frozen foods, and the like.

Signs for such purpose have proved desirable not only as a sales stimulus, but also as a convenience to customers. In general, these signs as heretofore constructed have embodied aboard or rack mounted on the top of the storage cabinet adjacent its forward wall. The rack or board has been arranged for viewing only from the front of the cabinet and has usually embodied a rack which is so constructed as to removably receive display pieces'such as individual item strips, price tabs, photographs, and the like. `Display signs constructed in this manner which are visible from only one sideof the cabinet are objectionable in that they are not adapted for most eiicient use, as, for example, in cases where the cabinet might be viewed from either the front or back due to its being positioned away from the store wall or on an island in the store.

It has been the general practice to illuminate the display rack by means of an exterior source of illumination such as electric lamps arranged at the top of the rack below a reflector. Such illuminating arrangements have been found to be objectionable inthatshadows are cast on the display pieces with the result that the clearness and legibility may oftentimes lbe impaired. Moreover, since the electric lamps, which in use get quite hot, are exposed, theselamps constitute an attraction particularly to children who are inclined to touch them with their bare hands. While the lamps may not cause a serious burn, they are sufficiently hot to startle and frighten the child to the extent that the parent or other customers in the store may be objectionably disturbed and distracted from their shopping activities.

It, therefore, becomes necessary in display signs of the above construction to provide a separate additional light source on the back of the rack for illuminating the interior of the cabinet when it is opened for the removal of food or other items therefrom, or when placing the items in the cabinet.

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" utilized not only for the illumination of the display pieces,but which also serves to illuminate Y the interior of the storage cabinet when it is Having in mind the foregoing as well as other opened for the removal or placing of foods or other iteins therein.

Still further and other objects are to provide a sign for the herein described purpose, which is pleasing and attractive in appearance, which is of such construction as to enable its being easily cleaned, which is efficient in operation, and which embodies a novel construction permitting its being easily adapted for cabinets of varying length.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view showing the display sign of the present invention as being applied to a food storage cabinet;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional View through the sign, taken substantially on line II-II of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a lower bottom edge of the sign to show its constructional details;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional View taken through the sign to show the cooperative relationship between certain of its parts, taken substantially on line IV-IV of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section through the same, taken substantially on line V-V of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the manner in which the end wall panels are secured to the end supports, taken substantially on line VI-VI of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged front elevational view of a portion of the display sign.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring to Figurel, the display sign of the k present invention is disclosed as being applied to a storage cabinet, as generally indicated at l0, such as used for the storage ofconfections, frozen foods, and the like, and for the dispensing and merchandising of such products. As is the usual practice, such cabinets are providedv with top closure members or doors I I, which may be opened to permit placing of food into the cabinet or removing it therefrom.

The display sign of the present invention, as generally indicated at I2, comprises in general an upright structure mounted at the forward upper edge on the top of the cabinet adjacent the doors I I. This sign is provided with display panels wherein photographs of the various foods or items may be displayed and item strips and price tabs may be mounted in a position where they may be readily and easily viewed "by customers.

More specifically, the present invention embodies right hand and left hand end members I3 and I4 which are constructed of an enameled surface material. These members are of generally hollow construction and are open on their inner side faces. The end members, it will be noted, are ared towards their bottom ends, and the rearwardly disposed edges at the bottom ends of the members are carried rearwardly, as sh'own at I5, to form a foot portion at the lower end of the member which is adapted toY be secured to the top of the cabinet as by suitable screws II-IG."

Extending between the upper ends of the end members is a top frame member I1 of generally U-shaped construction, this frame member being disposed in inverted position so that it will open downwardly and form a channel extending be- 'i tween the end members.

The lowermost ends of the end members are connected by a U-shaped bottom frame member I8 which is disposed so as to open upwardly. Ad-

jacent the respective end members, the upper and f lower frame members I1 and I8 are connected by forwardly and rearwardly disposed spacer panels I9 and 29, which extend inwardly from the end members and cooperate with the frame members I1 and It to define an elongate, substantially rectangular opening 2| in the forward and rear walls of the upright structure' I2.

The panels I9 and 20 are in each case provided with upper and lower projecting end portions 22 and 23 for making` lapping engagement with the associated marginal edges of the leg portions of the frame members I1 and-|53, and may be welded or otherwise secured thereto. The lateral edges of the spacer panels are deflected to form inwardly turned side flanges 24 and 25, th'e outermost of these flanges being arranged to make face engagement with securing lugs 2t along the open side 0f the associated end member, to which the ange may be secured as by suitable bolts 21.

It will be apparent that in the construction thus far described, theparts are rigidly held together and cooperate to forma generally hollow housing having openings 2I in the forward and rear walls thereof. Since display signs of the type described herein may be used with cabinets of different lengths, the foregoing` construction is admirably adapted, with only slight changes, to be utilized with dilerent cabinets. In other words, in order to adaptthe housing for a longer or shorter cabinet, it is only necessary to cut the frame members I'Iand I3 of proper length and utilize spacer panels of proper width to eilectv an opening 2l i of standard predetermined size.

As shown in Figures 2 and o,A the respective legs ofrthelframe member IS areconnectedat their jointure with' the bottom portion of the member by meansof internal angle members 23' and 29. Secured -to thee angle members 28. and.

29 is a U-shaped channel member 30 having leg portions which cooperate with the upstanding leg portions of the member I8 to form upwardly opening grooves 3| along, the bottom of the openings 2I-2I for a purpose which will later be explained in detail. The member 39 is formed of suitable reflecting material.

A plurality'of lamp sockets 3I1l are suitably supported on the member 30 in spaced relation behind the wall openings 2I-2I, each of these sockets beingadapted to receive and operatively supportan electric lamp 32 of preferably elongate construction.

Electric service to th'e electric lamps for supplying electricity thereto may be broughtl into the interior of the sign structure througha suitable conduit 33, and the lamps may be controlled by means of a suitable switch 34 in the electricI circuit. This switch is provided with an actuating member 35 which preferably extends through one of the spacer'panels so that it may be readily actuated by the cabinet attendant.

Each of the openings 2I is arranged to have a display rack removably supported therein. This display rack or panel will now be described.

The display rack, as shown inY Figures 2 and 3, comprises a rectangular frame 36 constructed of a channel member which opens inwardly. The frame 36'is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending vertically spaced rail members 31, each of these members being so shaped as to form an upwardly lopening, longitudinally extending groove 38 and a downwardly opening, longitudinally extending groove 39; The members 31 `and grooved bushing members 49 at the top and bottom of the frame provide lsupports for flashed opal glass strips 4| 'having their upper and lower edges disposed in the facing grooves of adjacently disposed rails 31.

While any desired spacing may be utilized between the rails 31, it is preferred that the lower portion of the frame 36 have the rail members 31 rather closely spaced for receiving relatively narrow glass strips 4 I and that Vthe upper portion of the frame be arranged to receive relatively wider glass strips or panels 42.

The frame and rails 31 may be centrally braced, if desired, by means of a central upright member 43 which may bel secured at its ends to L the upper and lower frame portions and also to the respective cross rails. The upper portion of the frame may be further subdivided by upright members44.

With the frame :it` having the glass panels mounted therein and subdivided as shown in Figure l, it is proposed to provide translucent photographs or similar .advertising display media, which may be disposed in the larger areas at the upper portion of the frame, and translucent item strips, as well as price indicating tabs of translucent material, which may be removably placed in the strip areas at the lower portion of the frame.

Both' the photographs and item strips, as well as the price tabs, may be secured in front'of the outer surface of a glass panel or strip in'the manner disclosed in Figures S'and'l. An item strip, as shown at, 45, maybe disposed in d-isplay position simply by transversely bowing thev strip and `inserting its upper and lower edges in the facing grooves of adjacent members 31-31- or between a member31 and oneof the bushingsfl, so that the strip or photograph or price tab will overlie the 4glass strip or panel with which it is associated.

While it is not necessary to provide for ready replacement of the glass strips or glass panels, such an arrangement may be readily provided by slotting one or both ends of the frame 35, as shown at 45, so as to enable longitudinal withdrawal of the glass strips or panels from the frame or the insertion of new glass strips or panels to replace broken ones.

Provision is made for the ready removal or insertion of the display frame or rack into display position in the opening 2l. This is accomplished by making the rack of a height greater than the height of the opening and providing resilient clips l1 at spaced intervals in the top frame member Il. Each of these clips is sub stantially U-shaped with inwardly deflected end portions i3-48, which are adapted to press against the rear upper edge of the forward and rear display racks and force them outwardly against the legs of member Il, and downwardly L so that the lower edge of the rack is disposed flush, aligning engagement in the grooves 3 I-Si In order to remove one of the racks from its supported position, it is only necessary to shift the rack upwardly in an edgewise direction until the lower edge of the rack is free of its associated groove, whereupon the bottom edge of the rack may be swung outwardly and moved downwardly to free the upper edge thereof. The rack may be easily replaced by reversing this operation. When a display rack is removed, access may be had to the interior of the housing through the opening 2| for replacing burned out lamp bulbs or for other purposes.

It will be apparent that, with a display sign l',

doors Il in the top of the cabinet will serve to illuminate the interior of the cabinet when the doors are opened, without the necessity of having to provide additional illumination for such purpose.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides an improved illuminated sign having duplicate display panels which may be viewed from the front or back of the cabinet; which embodies a single source of illumination which is not only utilized for illuminating the display panels, but also serves to illuminate the interior of the cabinet with all) which the sign is associated; in which the source of illumination is shielded from contact by customers and children; a display sign which is free of objectionable shadows; in which the display panels may be readily and easily removed to permit access to the source of illumination, when desired; which may be readily adapted for storage cabinets of different lengths; and which is pleasing in appearance and may be kept in a clean and attractive condition.

It is, of course, to be understood that, although I have described in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention, the invention is not to be thus limited but only insofar as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1.v In a device of the character described, a pair of end members adapted for securing in an upright position to the top of a storage cabinet, upper and lower rail members extending between the end members, end upright wall panels adjacent the end members respectively secured at their upper and lower ends to the rail members, means removably connecting the panels to their adjacent end-members, said panels and rails cooperating to dene an opening, and a display panel removably supported in said opening.

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of end members adapted for securing in an upright position tothe top of a storage cabinet, upper and lower rail members extending between the end members, spaced upright forward and rear wall panels connected to each end member'and the associated rails, said panels and rails co-operating to form forward and rear openings, and forward and rear display panels respectively removably supported in said open 1ngs.

3. In a device of the character described, a pair of end members adapted for securing in an upright position to the top of a storage cabinet, upper and lower rail members extending between the end members, spaced upright forward and rear wall panels connected to each end member and the associated rails, said panels and rails cooperating to form forward and rear openings, forward and rear translucent display panels respectively removably supported in said openings with a space therebetween, and a com mon light source behind the display panels in said space.

4. In a device of the character described, a pair of end members adapted for securing in an upright position to the top of a storage cabin net having a plurality of top access openings, upper and lower rail members extending between the end members adjacent said openings, upright wall panels adjacent the end members connected to the end members and associated rails, said y panels and rails cooperating to define an opening adjacent the cabinet top access openings, a translucentdisplay panel in said opening, and a light source behind the translucent panel pom sitioned to emit rays therethrough and into the interior of the cabinet through its access openings.

5. In a display device of the character described, a hollow upright frame structure defining spaced walls having opposed openings therein, an upwardly opening groove adjacent the bottom of each opening, translucent display panel inserts for respectively closing said openings, each of said panels'when disposed with its upper edge margin behind the wall at the top of its associated opening being upwardly shiftable edgewise to enable disposition and seating of its lower edge margin in the groove at the bottom of the opening, and a retaining member common to said panels having yieldable end portions, said end portions being angularly disposed relative to the faces of said panel and respectively associated with the rear upper edge margins of the panels for pressing the same laterally against their associated walls and deflecting the same downwardly so that the lower edge thereof is in a completely seated portion in the upwardly opening groove.

EDWARD M. FRITZ.

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