US2626850A

US2626850A - Movable counter top

Info

Publication number: US2626850A
Application number: US168018A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bruec K Slonneger
Original assignee: NCR Corp
Current assignee: NCR Voyix Corp; National Cash Register Co
Priority date: 1950-06-14
Filing date: 1950-06-14
Publication date: 1953-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 1970-01-27

Description

Patented Jan. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES MOVABLE COUNTER TOP Bruce K. slonneger, Dayton, Ohio, a ssignor to The National .Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Applicatijen was 14, 1950, Serial No. 168,018

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a movable support for cash registers and the like.

In their use, cash registers are placed on counters in retail stores where merchandise is sold. In order to makeuse of all possible space for displaying merchandise, the user stacks the merchandise up to and in close proximity to the cash register. This condition is desirable for promoting the sale of goods, but it presents a problem when the cash register requires service, such as replacing ribbons or record material, minor repairs, or any other service which makes it necessary to obtain access to the inside of the cabinet of the machine. To do so, the merchant or the service man must move all the merchandise or must move the cash register away from the merchandise.

The object of the present invention is to provide a movable support for a cash register.

A-specific objectofthe invention is to provide a support for a cash'register which has a platform which normally rests on a counter top and to which the cash register is secured, a pivoted support for the platform, and a means to support one end of the platform when the platform is moved relatively to the counter top.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, a preferred form or embodiment of which will be hereinafter described with reference to the drawing which accompanies and forms a "part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a movable support, showing a cash register mounted thereon in chain lines and showing the movable support in moved position in chain lines, and shows a part of the mechanism in cross section taken on line ll of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a typical installation of a cash register on a store counter and illustrates merchandise placed beside the cash register in chain lines.

General description In retail stores where cash registers are used, the cash register and the merchandise are usually positioned on a counter side by side. Periodically it is necessary to gain access to the mechanism inside the cabinet of a cash register for replacing record material and ribbons and for PATENT 01F F ICE 2 mechanical inspection. 'For the purpose, a door or doors are provided in cash register cabinets, but in many instances access to these doors is blocked by merchandise displayed around the cash register. To render the cabinet doors accessible without "disturbing the display of merchandise, the present invention provides a movable support for the cash register, to which the cash register is secured. The support, or platform, is slidably mounted on a :guide secured to the counter top, and the forward end of the platform is provided 'with a framework comprising legs resting on the floor of the store room. These legs may begfastened to thefioor for maximum stability. The framework has pivoted thereto an auxiliary frame to support the free end of the platform when moved out from the counter top its fullest extent to firmly support the platform and the cash register thereon. The platform is movable far enough to provide access to the doors in the cabinet, whereupon the doors can be opened to gai'n'access to the mechanism in the cabinet-for servicing the cash register.

Detailed description In a typical installation, illustrated in Fig. 3, a cash register I0 is mounted on the top of a counter H, and in many instances merchandise i2 is displayed adjacent "the cash register and in such positions as to prevent easy access to doors l3 in the cabinet of the cash register. To gain access to the doors 13 without disturbing the merchandise [2, a gui'deway l4 (Figs. 1 and 2) is secured to the top of the counter H. The sides of the guideway [4 are turned inwardly to provide guide tracks 15. The cash register In is secured to a movable platform [6, the front end of which is formed downwardly to provide a flexible apron H. The rear end of the platform is bent downwardly and forwardly to form a stop 18. Secured within the space between the under side of the platform [6 and the stop I8 is a bar l9, formed of two thicknesses of sheet metal bent double, which bar extends beyond the sides of the platform [6 and into the spaces forming the guide tracks [5. The bar l9, therefore, acts as a guiding means to guide the platform I6 when moved forwardly and backwardly on the counter top.

Secured to the forward end of the guideway I4 is a member 20 provided with an upwardly and rearwardly extending flange lying in the path of movement of the stop l8, whereby the platform is arrested upon the stop I8 coming into contact with the member 20. A member 2|, similar to 3 the member 20, is secured to the rear end of the guideway I4 to limit the return movement of the platform 14.

A framework, including two legs 22 and a cross bar 23, is provided to support the forward end of the platform H, the upper ends of the legs 22 being secured to the flexible apron H.

The cross bar 23 is formed of a sheet of metal formed in a close inverted U shape, which can be fitted over angle feet 24, which have one flange of each extending forwardly and which may be secured to the floor of the store room for stability. The angle feet 24 are constructed of resilient material to permit flexing thereof in a manner presently described.

Pivoted to each leg 22, as at 25, is an angle bar 26, which hangs freely against the leg 22 when the cash register is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1.

When it is desired to gain access to the doors 13, the cash register I is pulled forwardly to slide the platform IS on the guide plate I4 until the platform is arrested by the stop [8 striking the member 29. At this time, the angle bars 26 assume the chain-line position (Fig. 1), and their lower ends rest on the floor of the store to firmly support the platform l6. It should be noted that the angle bars 26 do not reach the floor when in normal position, shown by full lines in Fig. 1. The forward movement of the upper ends of the legs 22 is permitted, since the apron I! and the angle feet 24 are made of resilient material and can therefore be flexed sufficiently to permit the angular movement of the legs 22.

As an extra precaution, a flanged member 2'! is secured to the platform I6 to prevent accidental forward shifting of the cash register when in moved position, in which position the platform [4 stands at a slight angle.

While the form of the invention shown and described herein is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment disclosed herein, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a counter top; a guide member secured to the counter top, said guide member provided with guide tracks; a movable platform normally resting on the guide member, said platform adapted to support a machine; projections on the platform extending into the guide tracks by means of which the platform is guided in its movements; a framework including a plurality of legs and a cross bar located near the lower ends of the legs; angle bars constructed of flexible material and connected to the cross bar to provide an anchor for the framework, said angle bars being secured to the floor of a room; a flexible apron on the platform connected to the upper end of the framework, said flexible angle bars and flexible apron providing means to permit the platform to be moved from its normal position into 2. moved position without disconnecting the framework from the platform or the floor; and means on the framework and movable therewith and relatively thereto to provide a support for the platform when in moved position.

2. In a device of the class described, a counter top; a guide member secured to the counter top, said guide member provided with guide tracks; a movable platform normally resting on the guide member, said platform adapted to support a machine; projections on the platform extending into the guide tracks by means of which the platform is guided in its movements; a framework including a plurality of legs and a cross bar located near the lower ends of the legs; angle bars constructed of flexible material and connected to the cross bar to provide an anchor for the framework, said angle bars being secured to the floor of a room; a flexible apron on the platform connected to the upper end of the framework, said flexible angle bars and flexible apron providing means to permit the platform to be moved from its normal position into a moved position without disconnecting the framework from the platform or the floor; and means pivotally connected to the framework, the lower ends of which means being located a distance above the floor, but movable to rest on the floor when the platform is moved to limit the movement of the platform and to support one end of the platform in its moved position.

BRUCE K. SLO'NNEGER.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Buntin June 12, 1951