US2692808A

US2692808A - Display case pump top

Info

Publication number: US2692808A
Application number: US182434A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred H Marsh
Original assignee: Sun Oil Co
Current assignee: Sunoco Inc
Priority date: 1950-08-31
Filing date: 1950-08-31
Publication date: 1954-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1971-10-26

Description

DISPLAY CASE PUMP TOP Filed Aug. 31, 1950 INVENTOR. ALFRED H. MARSH m BY ATTCRNEYS Patented Oct. 26, 1954 DISPLAY CASE PUMP TOP Alfred H. Marsh, Swarthmore, Pa., assignor to Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 31, 1950, Serial No. 182,434

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in merchandising displays and more particularly to illu minated display cabinets to be mounted on struc tures such as gasoline dispensers and the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a receptacle for advantageously displaying articles of merchandise protected from inclement weather and theft. Another object is to provide the receptacle with illuminated advertising media to further attract public attention. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description.

in accordance with the present invention a seamless display case of transparent material is constructed to conform to the configuration of an existing pedestal structure such as a gasoline dispenser. A translucent plate with advertising indicia is mounted vertically on top of the display case and a directional lighting system arranged within the case to illuminate the displayed articles and the advertising. The case is then securely mounted on the top of a gasoline dispenser, or pump casing, in a manner to withstand weather and thievery and attract maximum consumer attention.

In order that a better understanding of the invention may be had, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a gasoline dispenser and the display device.

Figure 2 is a detail of Figure l in sectional eleration.

The present service station equipped to retail gasoline and lubricating oils to public consumers is ordinarily stocked with other items intended for sale. Very few purchasers are acquainted with the stock on hand, and only limited opportunity is afforded to display these wares. Normally a motorist remains in his automobile during the servicing of the vehicle and does not see the display of goods in the station building. It is to display goods under these conditions that the present invention is intended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates the display case of the invention generally denoted by the numeral If; mounted on a gasoline dispensing pump l2. The preferred material of the display case It is a transparent plastic such as Plexiglas or Lucite but it may be made of shatter-proof or tempered glass. The case i is molded as a dome or otherwise shaped to form a seamless transparent case attractively and artistically fashioned to complete the top surface of the pump casing for which it is intended. A shelf M is placed within the case l0 flush with the top of the pump structure 12 and levelled to hold displayed merchandise generally denoted by It. This may be simply a metal shelf or, as shown in the preferred embodiment is made of translucent material for the diffusion of light upwardly into the case. The transparent, seamless case it comprises a lower cylindrical member l l depending from its dome-shaped top which is permancntly held in place on a gasket it of flexible material such as rubber or neoprene mounted inside the case. A metal band 2i) through which metal screws 22 are driven, anchors the case firmly to the pedestal i2. In the preferred form, the lower section of the transparent case 58 between the shelf and the fastening band is etched, painted, or otherwise made translucent to corn ceal the top of the pump extending into it.

On the top of the transparent display case Ill, a flat indicia plate 24 is mounted vertically to present the face to the viewing public. The plate Ed is fashioned from transparent or translucent light reflecting material and may be tinted for display purposes. Insignia such as a trade name or slogan 26 is fashioned in the plate in colored letters distinctive from the tint of the plate and is arranged to reflect or absorb light to form a distinctive display.

A light source 28 which in the preferred embodiment includes an electric bulb 35 and a cylindrical tube 32 made of light diffusing mate rial such as ground glass or translucent plastic is mounted in the center of the display case as shown. The cylindrical tube 32 is open at the top directing an uninterrupted beam of light at the exposed bottom of the previously described flat plate 23 with the insignia 2B. The light refleeting qualities of this plate with the colored insignia definitely outlines the advertising slogan. Additional lights 3% shown as the familiar tubular type are mounted beneath the translucent shelf it, concealed by the translucent lower section of the case It to add to the display.

The display advantages of the described structure will be immediately evident to those versed in the art. A Well lighted display case with insignia spelling a trade name is adapted for mounting on an existing outdoor gasoline dispenser in the path of customer trafilc. Under ordinary circumstances it is the customers purpose to stop for gasoline, and the pump being his destination receives his undivided attention. The seamless display case fabricated from a single sheet of transparent material which is securely fastened to the mounting pedestal insures a weatherproof and theft proof display. Advantageously placed 3 on a gasoline dispensing pump, it demonstrates saleable goods to the public which is ordinarily not displayed. The lighting arrangement is combined with the interior of the display case and the insignia or trade name reflecting plate to increase the customer attraction.

Having described and illustrated one form of the invention, it is to be undertsood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown, except so far as such limitations are specified in the appended claim.

I claim:

A display case top mountable on a gasoline pump comprising a case of transparent material of dome shape extended downwardly to an engaging edge for mounting, an indicia plate mounte ed on the top of said case, Weather tight fastening means around the engaging edge of said case, a horizontal translucent shelf supported in said case above the mounting edge dividing the case into an upper and a lower chamber, peripherally directed light rays into the upperchamber, a n

vertically arranged lighting means centrally disposed on said translucent shelf in the upper chamber below the indicia plate, a light diffusing cylinder of translucent material enclosing said central light, said cylinder being open at the top to direct light rays vertically at the base of the indicia plate and horizontally directing diffused rays through the difiusing cylinder above the translucent shelf.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,750,440 Tarver Mar. 11, 1930 1,840,325 McCann Jan. 12, 1932 1,866,126 Payson July 5, 1932 1,920,882 Pellow m Aug. 1, 1933 2,050,515 Wells Aug. 11, 1936 2,120,826 Young June 14, 1938 2,355,731 James Aug. 15, 1944 2,507,303 Gustafson May 9, 1950 2,566,453 Ketkay Sept. 4, 1951 2,574,164 Baay Nov. 6, 1951