US2543263A - Connected wall store furniture - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 27, 1951 A. VANDERVELD ET AL 2,543,263

CONNECTED WALL STORE FURNITURE Filed Oct. 13, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 LL \NvENToR Amnom \lAnumvaLo LLEN \LDAHME.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 27, 1951 A, VANDERVELD ET AL 2,543,263

CONNECTED WALL STORE FURNITURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 13, 194'? \NVENTO ALLEN H. DAHME.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 27, 1951 A. VANDERVELD ET AL 2,543,263

CONNECTED WALL STORE FURNITURE Filed Oct. 13, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 \uvzu og Amnoux' Vggngvml 1 .LLEN H.DAHME manna Patented Feb. 27, 1951 IYSTATES PATEN T OFF 1 CE CONNECTED WALL STORE FURNITURE -A-nt'hony "Vanderveld and AllenHJDa'hme, "Grand Rapids, Mich, :assi'gnors to Grand Rapids Store Equipment Com-pany, Grand Rapids, Mich a oorporation'nf Michigan Claims.

The presentinvention "relates to a novel construction for connecting store furniture cases, cabinets, mirrors, alcoves, doors, or like furniture units toge'sther, "in a manner such that they may be either disposed indirect horizontal alinement or'swungto different angular positions with respect to each "other. Such angular relation of merchandise holding cabinets to each other, and also with respect to minors or alcoves or doors interposedin the length of a connected series oi cases, is very "desirable "for a better appear- "anc'e in the store, and "in many cases :a more satisfactory "arrangement for utilization of the store 'ispace.

The "connection which we have provided permits the "connected furniture units to swin about the axes of vertical hinges "at the "front thereof and a line ofthe storeifurniture may take either a generally convex or a generally concave curvature. One object and purpose of the invention is to provide .a :novel means for the location of merchandise holding cases in .a position to each other to provide a generally convex 'front of the assembled furniture, utilizing the "same hinge means "which is .used for the positioning of the several units of 's'tore fumiture hingedly com iected together for the .provision of a generally concave front.

Another object :and "purpose is to provide a simple and "novel means .for securing the functions and results stated, which .isreadily manufactur'ed "and I assemliled at "low cost and which provides an attractive appearance, with a covering "up and disgiiising o'f allh'inges by means or anoveL'rea dil'y attached and detached .decorative covering therefor.

An understanding of the invention .may "be had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. .1 is in -2811928 1 plan view of 4a .series of store iturnitm elnxiitshinge'dly connected to gether,

and 'wifihftiie merchandise hdldmg cabinets out of :alirremera'with each other -ea vthe "assembled furniture assuming a generally curved position, Figs. are enlar ed horizontal sections through units or the connected l'furniture,

Fig. .4 is alfragmentary vertical section through the front .part of a merchandise holding case Fig-YB isa similar vertical section through a mirror imit, on the plane oflline 5-35 of Fig. 1, 'Figlfiis a similar vertical section throu h the dooriframe, on "the plane of line "6-15 of Fig. .1, 'Figfi'? "is a'rragmentary rear elevation thereof,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation and vertical section through the mirror unit with the cover for the hinges separated therefrom,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front elevation illushating the hinge connection for the units of store furniture,

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section, from front to rear, and front elevation through the hinge structure and cover therefor,

Fig. "11 is a fragmentary perspective view from the rear of the decorated cover,

Fig. 12 is a plan viewthereof,

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal section through a display "case, illustrating the manner in which shelves may he supported therein,

Fig. "14 is a fragmentary vertical section from "front to rear, on the plane of line M-M of Fig. 13, and

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section, substantially on the plane of line 15-45 of Fig. '13.

L'ikereference characters refer to like parts in the difierent'figures of the drawings.

In store furniture, display cases or cabinets i, having bottom, top, back and vertical ends, are common, 'the fronts of said "cabinetsheing open, and Within the cabinets shelves or other supports for merchandise are mounted. Frequently "the cases contain drawers in which mer- 'c'handise is held and at other times are supplied with overlapping sliding front doors for closing atthe front, out with ready access to the merchandise therein. Also "at times bet-ween merchandise holding cases a "mirror, as indicated at is interposed. Also a door frame '3 having a hinged door to mounted thereon, through which frame, when the door is opened, a clerk may pass for access to stock. At other times an alcove, indicated at 4, is used. With our inventiongwhentwo adjacent display "cases are to "be located at an obtuse angle to each other, between them at'their adi'acent ends and at the "front a verticahfiller 51's located.

'With'our invention a common means of'connesting the display casesymirror or dooryframe, alcove or 'fi'llen'is provided which permits pivotal movements ofithe cases'or cabinets with respect to each other about vertical axes, or a pivota movement of .any .of the other connected units in the same manner. so that the line of store furniture'may be shiftedand swung out of alin'ement and into a generally .curved iorm as shown in'Fig. 1.. It is to he understood that the verticalheight of the mirror unit, the door unit,

the alcove unit and the filler is substantially the same as that of a merchandise holding or display cabinet.

With our invention, for example with the mirror unit 2 (Fig. 2), at each vertical edge thereof an elongated fiat metal plate 6 is secured extending the height of the mirror unit and which extends in front thereof, each of said plates being bent outwardly and away from each other in front of the mirror unit in an elongated hinge member I. The free vertical edges of the hinge members I are formed, at spaced apart distances in the length thereof, with cooperating rolls for the passage of hinge pins. The same plates 6 with outward angularly disposed hinge members I are secured at vertical sides of the door frame 3, and also at the vertical side edges of the filler 5. The filler 5 is merely a relatively narrow elongated board, as shown, with the metal plates 6 secured thereto at its vertical edges.

The cabinet or case structure may include vertical back posts 8, with means for receiving a vertical back 9 for the cabinet at their edge portions, and also for receiving and holding the rear edges of Vertical ends I0. The front posts II and I2, as well as the back posts, are of sheet metal parts, and between the front posts lower channel guides I3, for the lower edges of sliding doors, may be secured. Such sheet metal posts II and I2 have the metal at their inner sides continued outward and bent at an angle, as indicated at I4, corresponding substantially to the angularly disposed hinge members 1 bent from the vertical plates 6. The free vertical edges of the angularly disposed extensions Hi are likewise formed with hinge pintle receiving rolls. The clips I5 connected with the posts II and I2 serve to engage the front vertical edge portions of the sides IQ of the case to hold them in place, as shown.

The alcove sides may be made of spaced hollow sheet metal posts I6, with securing means for a panel I! between the posts (Fig. 2). The outer sides of the outer posts of the alcove are likewise extended and bent to one side at an angle to provide an elongated vertical hinge section I8, similar to the sections I and I4, and equipped at their free vertical edges with the hinge pintle receiving rolls.

Any desired arrangement of the plurality of units making up an installation of store furniture may be followed. A plurality of the cases or cabinets may be located end to end, as many as wanted, and the outwardly extending hinge members I4, having their hinge rolls or knuckles coming together, have hinge pins I9 pass therethrough, thereby hingedly connecting all of the cases or cabinets together. They may be located in direct alinement, or may be swung outwardly with respect to each other to take a generally arcuate form, concave at the outer side of the cases. Likewise, the door frame 3 with its door mounted therein, or the mirror unit 2, may be connected between cabinets or cases or to each other or to the posts of the alcove sides,.any desired arrangement of the several units being possible. When two display cabinets or case units are located end to end and a swinging of one with respect to the other in the opposite direction is wanted, to provide a generally convex front, the filler 5 is used. With the door frame or the mirror or the alcove, such reverse curvature of the front of the assembled store furniture may be had without the use of fillers.

The hinge connected units have the hinge knuckles covered with a concealing and decorative cover. Such cover consists of an elongated V-shaped metal member 26, at the inner trough of which, at spaced apart distances, retaining spring clips 2| are secured, being welded at one end and extend downwardly at their free end portions. The clips, of the form best shown in Fig. 10, are spaced apart'the same distance as the hinge knuckles, and the downwardly extending free end sections of said clips may be passed behind said spring knuckles and by moving the cover 20 downwardly, securely yet releasably held in place. This provides a very attractive outer appearance and at the same time, permits the several hingedly connected units a pivotal movement about the vertical axes of the hinges. The clips 2| of spring material, and preferably of wire, yield to permit the troughlike cover member 20 to move outwardly upon angular change of position of said units with respect to each other.

The structural detail of the cabinets or cases at their rear portions, and the manner in which the bottom, back and vertical ends thereof may be secured, is subject to wide variation without affecting the invention. Preferably, in connection with the mirror and door units, the top of the door frame will be covered by a metal plate 22 of the shape best shown in Fig. 5, and with angle clips 23 secured at the upper edge of the mirror back to extend downwardly in front of the upper edge of the mirror plate, while the lower. edge of the mirror plate is received back' of a cleat 24 secured at the front of the mirror. plate and connected with the back. The upper ends of the side plates 6 and the angular hinge extensions I arewelded or otherwise permanently connected to the-forward portions of the top plate 22. A similar structure, is used in connection with the door frame, a stop plate 22 of metal connected with the upper side of the frame extending forwardly over the upperv edges of the side plates 6 and their angular front extensions I and welded thereto.

With the case or cabinet, the top of it is supported at its front by a guide Isa of channel form for the innermost sliding door. A plate having a horizontal section 25 is welded 01' otherwise secured to the guide I3a, extends forward and is then return bent downwardly and to the rear, as at 26, to complete, with the front flange of the guide I3a, a guide for the outer sliding door. At their end portions the sections 26 are welded or otherwise secured to the upper ends of the front posts II and I2 and their outwardly extended angular sections I4. Such detailof structure is not essential to the prees'nt invention, but is disclosed as a practical working structure which has been produced.

In Figs. 13, 14 and 15, the manner in which shelves may be assembled and supported in a display case is shown. In the rear posts 8 and in the front posts I I and I2, which latter posts have the angle extensions I4 projecting forwardly therefrom, a plurality of spaced vertical slots 21 are made at their inner sides. Those in the front post members II and I2. are back of the horizontal lower guiding channels I3 for sliding doors. Between the front post members I I or I2 and the rear post members 8 at the inner side of each displayv case, an angle shelf-support 28.1s located, the vertical leg. of which at eachend has a hook member or ear 29 to pass through a slot 2! to thereby connect the angle shelf-supporting bars 28 detachably to the posts. A shelf 30 at each end and at its under side has a bar 3|, of

flat metal, secured thereto connected at their front ends by a front bar 82. As shown in Fig. 15, said bars at their outer edges have downturned lips which extend partly over the outer sides of the downwardly extending legs of the angle bar shelf-supports 28 and at their ends engage the front and rear posts or uprights ii and i2 and 8. This provides a very secure interlocking connection of the shelves so that when in use, they are held and retained against aimless or other undesired movement.

With the invention as disclosed, a ver practical, efficient, economical and useful improvement in store furniture is made. The sides of the uprights or posts I i and I2, with the vertical channel sections therein, permit an elimination of a separate and complete sliding doo frame which has previously been made and after it is made, permanently secured in place between the front uprights or posts. the lower channel guides 13 to said front uprights or posts, and providing a guide for the upper edges of the doors as in Fig. 4, and welding them at their ends in place, the vertical uprights or posts I i and i2 serve an additional function of providing the vertical sides of the door frame, with an elimination of material previ ously used, reducing cost of production. By the formation of the vertical channel sections in the front posts or uprights H or E2, and with the terminal rear flanges of said front uprights or posts turned outwardly, and a corresponding structure of the rear post members 8 having outwardly extending terminal flanges at their front edges, and against which outwardly extending flanges the dividing partitions or ends 18 engage, an interlocking connection of the shelves used with the front and rear posts is obtained in a very simple, practical and effective manner.

The several units are interchangeable, that is, may be rearranged as to the positions which they occupy with respect to each other. Thei connecting together and disconnection for any arrangement thereof are quickly accomplished. At different seasons of the year the furniture may be rearranged, if desired, between the time of closing a store at night and opening it in the morning. The cost is low. A pleasing and attractive appearance is obtained. A very novel, useful, serviceable and economical structure has been provided.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

We claim:

1. In store furniture, a plurality of store furniture units adapted to be located in end to end y Welding the ends of relation, hinge members connected with each unit at each end and at the front thereof, each having a vertical hinge leaf extending appreciably forwardly and sideways therefrom, means for pivotally connecting said hinge members at the adjacent ends of units whereby the units may be moved with respect to each other about the vertical axis of the hinging means, a cover of flat metal having a generally trough shaped cross section, and spring fingers connected at the inner side of said cover member at spaced apart intervals in the length thereof and at the bottom of said trough adapted to detachably connect with the hinging means and cover the pivotal connections of the hinge members.

2. In store furniture, a plurality of vertical store furniture units adapted to be located in end to end relationship, elongated hinging means detachably connecting said units at adjacent ends and on vertical axes located appreciably in front and sideways of the fronts of said units, a cover detachably and yieldably connected to and located at the outer side of said hinging means, said hinging means comprising, hinged leaves extending vertically the length of said units and having at spaced apart intervals in the length thereof and at their free edges, hinge rolls to receive hinge pins, said rolls on the adjacent ends of said units being adapted to be located in alinement, hinge pins to pass through said alined rolls, and said cover comprising a length of flat metal having a generally trough shaped cross section, and spring fingers located at the rear side of said cover at the bottom of the trough therein and permanently secured thereto at their upper ends and extending downwardly, having lower free end portions adapted to pass over and back of said rolls and hinge pins extending therethrough.

ANTHONY VANDERVELD. ALLEN H; DAHME.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 891,155 Farrell June 16, 1908 1,250,110 Vanderveld Dec. 11, 1917 1,257,097 Morris Feb. 19, 1918 1,412,895 Rosenthal Apr. 18, 1922 1,432,044 Vincent Oct. 17, 1922 1,434,220 Morris Oct. 31, 1922 2,268,669 Moore Jan. 6, 1942 2,342,453 Colucci Feb. 22, 1944 2,422,447 Trautvetter June 17, 1947

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