US2794283A - Mechanical display apparatus - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. '7, 1953 John! J. 6554, 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

June 4,- 1957 GEEL 2,794,283 MECHANICAL DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Dec. 7, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /5 INVENTOR:

Jo/m' J- ia.

ATTORNEYS.

June 4, 1957 J. J. GEEL 2,794,283

MECHANICAL DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Dec. 7, 1953 55y Sheets-Sheet 3 [0 32 mm W 75 RlPFATlR v 2 [02 86M 85 fi 7 INVENfOI C JOHN J. 6551..

BY M M Y ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent I O 2,794,233 MECHANICAL DISPLAY AFPARATU John J. Geel, Charlotte, N. C., assignor to Howard 1. Goforth, Lexington, N. 8.

This invention relates to display apparatuses and, more especially, to a motor operated construction for displaying facsimiles or replicas of containers, such as milk cartons, frozen food containers or other commodity containers.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an improved article display. apparatus which is particularly designed for the like and which includes a vertically reciprocable platform or elevator mounted on an upright framework and to which the open lower end of an empty carton may be secured so the framework supporting said elevator is housed within the carton when it is in lowered position. The improved apparatus also includes an electric motor and a. dynamic speaker positioned on opposite sides of the elevator and each of which may also be housed in a carton so the apparatus with its three cartons thereon may be positioned among a plurality of filled milk cartons or analogous articles.

A switch interposed in an electrical circuit to the electric motor and the speaker may be positioned conspicuously on the floor or at any other desired location adjacent the displayed cartons and the motor is mechanically connected to the platform or elevator to cause the platform to move upwardly and then return to its lowered position upon the switch being closed. Another switch means is also interposed in the circuit to the electric motor and the speaker to automatically stop the flow of current to the motor each time the elevator returns to its lowered position, provided that the first-named switch is then open. A suitable electronic message repeater is also connected with said speaker and, thus, an audible message is emitted from the speaker in the course of each vertical reciprocation of the elevator.

Thus, each time the first-named switch is closed, the carton carried by the elevator is elevated as a message is audibly emitted from the speaker and, also, during the emission of said message, the carton carried by the elevator is raised and then returns to a position substantially on the same level as the surrounding filled cartons.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved display apparatus in which the cartons or housings for the dynamic speaker, the elevator and its supporting framework and the electric motor are omitted;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, mostly in elevation, taken along line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the elevator and its supporting framework taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Figure 1 and showing, in broken lines, a housing disposed about the supporting framework and secured to the platform, said platform being shown in lowered or inoperative position;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the improved advertising apparatus taken substantially display of milk cartons and the i V respective Fatented June 4, 1957 along line 4-4 in Figure 1, but showing the elevator in raised position and also showing the cartons or housings in solid lines with portions thereof broken away for purposes of clarity;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along line 55 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to the right-hand portion of Figure 4, but showing the elevator in lowered position;

Figure 7 is a diagram of the electrical circuit for the improved display apparatus.

Referring more. specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 broadly designates a suitable upright elevator supporting framework comprising guide posts 11, 12, 13 and 14 Whose lower ends are suitably secured to a base 15. The base 15 is shown as being substantially rectangular in plan, but 'it is to be distinctly understood that the base 15 should be shaped substantially in accordance with the shape of a group of three of the articles adjacent which the improved display device is to be positioned, the present device, as shown, being particularly designed for displaying articles which are substantially square or rectangular in plan.

The upper ends of the guide posts 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the elevator supporting framework 10 are maintained in proper spaced relationship by a plate 16 which is necessarily of smaller dimensions than the vertically movable platform or elevator indicated at 17. The vertically movable platform or elevator 17 is provided with four holes 20 therethrough which are loosely penetrated by the guide posts 11, 12, 13 and 14. It should be noted that the lower end of an open-bottomed enclosure or, center housing 22 surrounds, and is suitably secured to, the platform 17.

The center housing 22 should be a replica of articles adjacent which the improved display apparatus is to be positioned and, since the present apparatus is particularly designed for attracting customers attention to cartons of milk, the housing 22 is shown in the form of an empty milk carton whose bottom has been removed to permit mounting the carton 22 on the elevator 17, as shown.

Of course, the replica housing 22 should have suitable advertising indicia thereon corresponding to the articles adjacent which the improved display apparatus is to be positioned. Also, the height of the replica housing 22 should be such that the lower edge of the housing 22 may engage the upper surface of the base 15 before its upper portion engages the upper surface or upper outer edges of the plate 16 on the upper end of the guide posts 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the elevator supporting framework 10.

One end of a pliable element, such as a cord or cable 23 is suitably attached, as at 24, to the central portion of the lower surface of the vertically movable platform or elevator 17 The cable 23 extends downwardly from the elevator or platform 17 and passes partially around a grooved pulley 25 whose lower portion is loosely disposed in a groove 26 formed in the upper surface of the base 15. The pulley 25 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 27 whose opposite ends are bent downwardly (Figure 3) and fixed in the base 15. The cable 23 extends outwardly from beneath the pulley 25, along the groove 26 and then passes partially around a grooved pulley 28 which is also rotatably mounted on a shaft 29 whose opposite ends are bent downwardly (Figure 2) and fixed in the block or base 15. The cable 23 then extends upwardly from said pulley 28 and several convolutions thereof are wound about a drum 30 fixed on a transverse shaft 31 whose opposite ends are journaled in respective upright frame members 32 and 33 of a motor and gear train supporting framework 34.

The lower ends of said frame members 32 and 33 are suitably secured to the upper surface of the platform 15 to one side of the elevator supporting framework and these frame members 32 and 33 also straddle the groove 26 in the base 15. The shaft 31 is driven by means of a train of gears 35 to 40, inclusive, which are, in turn, driven by a reversible electric motor 41. V The gear 40 is fixedon a shaft 42 of the electric motor 41, the gears 38 and 39 are fixed on a shaft 43 and the gears 36 and 37 are fixed on a shaft 44. Opposite ends of the shafts 43 and 44 are journaled in the upright frame members 32 and 33 and the free end of the motor shaft 42 is journaled in the upright frame member 32. The gear 35 is fixed on the shaft 31 on which said drum 30 is mounted.

The electrical circuit for the motor 41 will be later described. The cable 23 is taut atall times and it follows that rotation of the drum 30 in either direction, imparts corresponding movement to the cable 23. The motor 41 is supported on a pair of spaced transverse bars or rods 45 and 46 which spanthe distance between, and are suitably secured to, the upright frame members'32 and 33. s r a It will best be observed in Figure 2 that the cable 23, after extending upwardly from thepulley 28 and around the drum'30, extends downwardly and passes partially around and beneath a pair of longitudinally spaced pulleys 50 and 51 (Figures mounted on' the respective transverse shafts 29 and 27.

The cable '23 extends upwardly from pulley .51 in spaced parallel relationship to the previously: described vertical run thereof and loosely extends through an opening or hole 52 provided therefor in the vertically movable platform or elevator 17 (Figure 3). The cable 23 then extends upwardly and substantially half around a grooved pulley 53 rotatably mounted on a shaft 54 whose opposite ends are also bent downwardly and fixed in the plate 16 (Figure 4).

It should be noted that the plate 16 has an opening 55 therein through which the cable 23 passes and, also, in which the lower portion of the grooved pulley 53 is disposed. After passing upwardly substantially half around pulley 53, the cable then extends downwardly and its other end is suitably attached to the upper surface of the elevator 17 adjacent the center thereof, as at 56.

The train of gears 35 to 40, inclusive, the upright framework 34 and the electric motor 41 are compactly arranged so a second replica housing 60 similar to the'housing 22 may be positioned about the motor 41 and the frame work 34 with the lower edges of the walls of said replica housing 60 resting upon the upper surface of the base The end of the base 15 remote from the electric motor 41 has an angle bracket 61 suitably secured thereto, which bracket 61 supports a dynamic speaker 62. The dynamic speaker is preferably relatively small so a third replica housing 63 may be positioned about the same with the lower edges of the walls thereof resting upon the upper surface of the base 15.

Insnlatably secured to the base 15, and disposed within the housing 63, is a reversing switch mechanism, broadly designated at 65, which comprises lower and upper contact bars 66 and 67 and an intermediate leaf-spring contact bar- 70 which are suitably insulated from each other,'as by insulation washers .69. The proximal surfaces of the contact bars 66 and 67 have respective contacts 66a and 67a thereon (Figure 7) andopposite surfaces of the intermediate leaf-spring contact bar 70 have contacts 70a and 70b thereon which are adapted to alternately engage the respective contacts 66a and 67a, as will'be later described. The leaf-spring contact bar 70 projects beyond contact bars 66 and 67 and is normally biased toward the lower contact bar 66.

Attimes, the intermediate contact bar 70 is moved upwardly by an arm 71 of a switch actuating element broadly designated at 7 The arm 71 of switch actuating element 72 extends inwardly and is then bent at right angles to form a lateral portion 73 which has an upright 2 and 5) which are also rotatably shaft portion 74 integral therewith frictionally mounted for vertical movement in a slot 75 provided therefor in the inner face of the guide post 11. The upright shaft portion 74 loosely extends through the corresponding opening 20 in the elevator 17 and its upper end is bent inwardly, as at 76. The inwardly projecting portion 76 on the upper end of the switch actuating element 72 is adapted to be engaged by the upper surface of the elevator 17 while the latter is in raised position.

The upright shaft portion 74 of the switch actuating element 72 is maintained in the groove 75 by suitable vertically spaced collars 77 fixed to the guide post 11. The diameter of the collars-77 is less than the internal diameter of the corresponding hole 20 to permit freedom of movement of the elevator 17 thereby in the course of vertical reciprocation thereof. It should be noted that the proximal walls of the replica housings 22 and 63 each has an opening 80 in the lower portion thereof through which the arm 71 of switch actuating element 72 loosely extends when the elevator 17 is in lowered position.

Electrical circuit Referring to Figure 7, the dynamic speaker 62 has Wires and 86 extending therefrom to a suitable electrically operable or electronic, message repeater 87. The message repeater 87 may be of any desired or conventional'constructio'n and should be provided with a suitable amplifier for repeatedly transmitting an audible message to the dynamic speaker 62 whenever the message repeater is electrically energized. The message repeater 87 isomitted from Figures 1 through 6, since it may be disposed remotely from the improved display apparatus, if desired. V i The message repeater 87 has corresponding ends of a pair of conductors 90 and 91 connected thereto. The other end of conductor 90 is connected intermediate the ends of one of a pair of lead wires or conductors 92 and 93, corresponding ends of which are connected to a plug 94 adapted to be connected to a suitable source of electrical energy, not shown.

The end of conductor 91 remote from the message re peater 87 is connected to one stop switch broadly designated at 95 andwhich includes an upper contact bar 96 and a lower leaf spring contact bar 97 which extends outwardly substantially beyond the contact bar 96 and is normally biased upwardly. The contact bars 96 and 97 of the switch 95 are insulatably secured to the base 15, as by a screw 100, adjacent framework 10 so the elevator 17 engages and holds the contact bar 97 downwardly when in lowered position. Opening 80 in housing 22 should also be large enough to accommodate switch arms 96 and 97.

The end of lead wire 93 remote from plug 94 is connected to the side of the switch 95 opposite from the conductor 91. Corresponding ends of wires or conductors 102 and 103 are connected intermediate the ends of the respective wires 91 and 93, adjacent switch 95, and the other ends of the wires 102 and 103 are connected to opposite sides of a normally open switch 104. The switch 104 is preferably of a type which may be positioned on a floor adjacent the improved display apparatus and the articles displayed adjacent said display apparatus so that customers walking past the display may intentionally or unintentionally walk upon the switch 104 to close the same to thereby initiate upward movement to the elevator 17 and to start the message repeater 87, as will be later described.

The reversible electric motor 41 may be of any desired construction and is shown in Figure 7 as being an inductance type motor provided with a field coil and a pair of reversing or shade coils d and u. The lead wire 92 is connected to one end of the field coil 1 and the other end of said field coil is connected intermediate the ends of conductor 91'by means of a conductor 105. A wire or conductor 106 is tapped oft the medial portion of the field side of a normally closed coil 1 and its other end is connected to the intermediate leaf spring contact bar 70 of the switch 65.

When the coil 105 is energized, the coils d and u are selectively energized through inductance in the usual manner and, to this end, the coils u and d have corresponding ends of respective wires 107 and 108 connected thereto whose other ends are connected to the respective contact bars 66 and 67.

It will be observed in Figures 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7 that the leaf spring contact bar 97 of the stop switch 95 is normally engaged by the elevator 17 when said elevator is in lowered position, thereby preventing current from flowing to the field coil 1 of the electric motor 41 and to the message repeater 87. However, upon the switch 104 being closed, the switch 95 is then by-passed, since current flows from lead wire 93, successively through conductor 103, switch 104, conductors 102 and 91, through the message repeater 87 and conductors 90 and 92 to close the circuit to said message repeater 87. At the same time, current flows from the conductor 91, through the field coil f of the electric motor 41 and wires or conductors 105 and 92, thus energizing the field coil f.

When the elevator 17 is in lowered or inoperative position, it will be observed that it bears against the upper surface of arm 71 and portion 73 of the switch actuating arm 72 and, since the intermediate contact bar 70 is normally biased downwardly, the contacts 70a and 66a are in interengagement. Thus, current flows from the field coil through the common wire 106, through the contact bar 70, through contacts 70a, 66a, contact bar 66 and wire 107 to the shade coil n which, through inductance, will be energized to cause the armature of said motor to rotate in one direction.

Of course, in so doing, the motor shaft 42 (Figure 2) transmits rotation to the drum 30 to cause the same to move in a counterclockwise direction in Figure 4. Since the cable 23 is tightly wound about the drum 30, frictional contact is maintained between the cable and the drum 30 so it causes said cable 23 to also move in a counterclockwise direction therewith in Figure 4.

It is apparent that counterclockwise movement of drum 30 in Figure 4 causes the left-hand top vertical run of the cable 23 to move upwardly in Figure 3 as the righthand run thereof moves downwardly thus, moving the elevator 17 upwardly. As the elevator 17 commences upward movement, it is apparent that it moves out of engagement with the leaf spring contact bar 97 of the stop switch 95 so that, although the switch may be closed only momentarily, the current will continue to flow through the electric motor 41 and the message repeater S7 in the manner heretofore described, with the exception that the contact between wires 93 and 92 would then be maintained by the switch 95 rather than switch 104.

The message repeater should be provided with'means for repeating a message which will correspond to the interval consumed by the movement of the elevator 17 upwardly from the lowered position shown in Figure 3 to the raised position shown in Figure 4 and then back to the position shown in Figure 3.

it will be observed in Figure 4 that, as the elevator approaches its uppermost position, the upper surface thereof engages and imparts upward movement to the portion 76 of the switch actuating element 72, thus separating the contacts 70:: and 66a and moving the contact 70b into engagement with contact 67a. This stops the flow of current to the coil u and effects the flow of current to the coil d in Figure 7, thus causing the armature of the electric motor 41 to reverse its direction of rotation, whereupon the cable 23 will move in the opposite direction from that heretofore described to return the elevator 17 and its replica housing 22 to the lowered position shown in Figure 3.

Since the upright shaft portion 74 of the switch actuating element 72 is frictionally maintained in the groove 75 in the guide post 11, the switch actuating element 72 will remain in the raised position shown in Figure 4 substantially throughout downward movement of theelevator 17. As the elevator 17 approaches the lowered position shown in Figure 3, its lower surface again engages the arm 71 of the switch actuating element 72 to move the same downwardly and again move the contact 70a into engagement with contact 66a while separating the contacts 67a and 70b.

Also, as the elevator 17 approaches the position shown in Figure 3, it engages the leaf spring contact bar 97 of the stop switch and, it the switch 104 does not happen to be closed at that time, the circuit to the electric motor 41 and the message repeater 87 will then be broken to cause the elevator to stop in the lowered position. Of course, if the switch 104 happens to be closed, due to a person standing thereon, the circuit to the electric motor 41 and the message repeater 87 will not be broken as the elevator 17 opens the switch 95 and, as a result, the elevator 17 will again pass through another cycle.

In any event, the electrical circuit in Figure 7 is so arranged that, regardless of the frequency at which the switch 104 may be opened and closed, the elevator 17 will always come to rest in the lowered position shown in Figure 3 in the event of the switch 104 being open at the time that it reaches the end of a downward stroke thereof.

It is thus seen that I have provided an improved display and sound emitting apparatus in which an elevator is automatically raised from a lowered position and then returned to the lowered position upon a switch being closed by the customer and during which a message is emitted from the dynamic speaker 62. Also, the dynamic speaker, the elevator means and the electric motor are so arranged on the base 15 that a replica of the merchandise being displayed adjacent the improved display apparatus may be placed over each the electric motor 41, the dynamic speaker 62 and the elevator 17.

Of course, with each vertical reciprocation of the elevator 17, since the replica housing 22 is secured to the elevator, it will be momentarily elevated substantially above the level of adjacent articles and substantially :above the level of the adjacent replica containers or housings 60 and 63 to thereby clearly display any advertising indicia appearing on the replica housing 22 and, at the same time, the sound emitted from the dynamic speaker 62 will attract the customers attention to the elevated replica housing 22, carried by the elevator 17.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. improved display apparatus comprising a base, an elevator supporting framework disposed on the medial portion of said base, an elevator mounted for vertical movement on said elevator supporting framework, a housing having its lower portion encircling and fixed to the elevator, said housing being of greater height than the height of said elevator supporting framework, elec trically operable means for fully raising and automaticallly lowering said elevator to thereby successively raise and lower said housing therewith, and means operable automatically upon the termination of each downward movement of said elevator for stopping said electrically operable means.

2. An improved display apparatus comprising a base, an elevator supporting framework mounted on said base and extending upwardly therefrom, an elevator mounted for vertical movement on said framework, a rotatable drum mounted adjacent said framework, a cable having its medial portion wound about said drum and having one end thereof connected to the lower surface of said elevator, the other end of said cable being connected the upper surface of said guiding another portion of said cable a lowered position for b .moto rzxfl e a, a i improvedidisplay apparatus comprising a base, tan elevator supporting-framework mounted on said base ,the upper surface of said elevator,

guiding the portion of said cable drum-to the lower surface of said switch means connected in parallel means engageable by 7 V i V V elevator, first guide rollers disposed beneath said elevator and beneath said drum for guiding the portion of said cable extending from said drum to the lower surface of said elevator, means for between the drum and the upper surface of said elevator in such a manner tthat-saidlast-named portion extends upwardly from the elevator and then outwardly and then loosely through the elevator'and thendownwardly and outwardly to said drum, an electric motor for driving said drum, switch means for energizing said electric motor to automatically impart vertical reciprocation to said elevator, and means operable automatically upon said elevator returning to reaking the circuit to said electric :andexten'ding upwardly therefrom, an elevator mounted .fonvertical movement on said framework, a rotatable drum mounted adjacent said framework, a cable having its fmedial portion woundabout said drum and having one 'endthereof connected to the lower surface of said elevator, the other end of said cable being connected to first guide rollers disposed beneath said elevator and beneath said drum for extending from said elevator, means for guiding another portion of said cable between the drum ,and the upper surface of said elevator in such a manner that said last-named portion extends upwardly from the elevator and then outwardly and then loosely through the elevator and then downwardly and outwardly to said drum, an electric motor for driving said drum, normally open manually operable first switch means for energizing said electric motor to automatically impart vertical re ciprocation to said elevator, a second normally closed with said first switch means in an electrical circuit to said motor, and means operable automatically upon said elevator returning to a lowered position for opening said second switch means to break/the circuit to said electric motor when said first switch means is open.

4. Apparatus for displaying replicas of hollow containers, such as milk cartons and the like, comprising a base, an elevator supporting framework including a plurality of upright guide posts having their lower ends fixed to said base, a platform mounted for vertical movement on said guide posts and being adapted to support the lower end of a replica container, a pliable element having opposite ends thereof connected to the upper and lower surfaces of said platform, means for guiding the upper portion of said pliable element above said platform, a rotatable drum disposed to one side of said framework, means for guiding opposite end portions of said pliable element to define substantially parallel vertical runs of the pliable element, said last-named means being so arranged as to guide said runs to the drum and a medial portion of said pliable element being wound about said drum, a reversible electric motor for driving said drum, a switch interposed in an electrical circuit to said motor and having means for completing a circuit to one side of the motor for driving said drum in one direction to raise saidplatform from a normally lowered position, and said, platform as it approaches raised position for moving said switch to complete the circuit to the other side of said motor to reverse the direction of rotation of said drum to return the platform to lowered position.

5. Apparatus for displaying replicas of hollow containers, such as milk cartons and the like, comprising a base, an elevator supporting framework including a plurality of upright guide posts having their lower ends fixed to said base, a platform mounted for vertical movement on said guide posts and being adapted to support the lower end of a replica container, a pliable element having opposite ends thereof connected to the upper and lower surfaces ofsaid platform, means for guiding the upper portion of said pliableelement above said platform, a rotatable drum disposed to one'sideof said framework, means for guiding opposite end portions of said pliable element to define substantially parallel vertical runs of the pliable element, said last-named means being so arranged as-to guide said runs-to the drum and a medial portion of said pliable element being wound about'said drum, a reversible electric motor for driving said drum, a switch interposed in an electrical circuit'to said motor and having means for completing a circuit to one side of the motor for driving said, drum in one direction to raise saidplatformffrom afinormally lowere d position, means engageable by said platform asit approaches raised position for movingfsaid switch to complete the circuit to the other side of said motor to reverse thedirection of rotation of said drum to return the platform to lowered posi tion, a normally closed stop switch also inter osed in said circuit to the electric motor, and means engageable by the platform upon reaching lowered position for opening said stop switch to break the circuit to the electric motor. 7 t

6. Apparatus for displaying replicas of hollow containers, such as milk cartons and the like, comprising a base, an elevator supporting framework including a plurality of upright guide posts having their lower ends fixed to said base, a platform mounted for vertical movement on said guide posts and being adapted to support the lower end of a replica container, a pliable element having opposite ends thereof connected to the upper and lower surfaces of said platform, said opposite ends defining runs, a rotatable drum disposed to one side of said framework, means for guiding said runs of said pliable element to the drum, a medial portion of said pliable element being wound about said drum, a reversible electric motor for driving said drum, said motor having a field coil and first and second shade coils, a manually operable normally open first switch interposed in an electrical circuit to said field coil, a reversing switch interposed in an electrical circuit to said shade coils and having means'for completing a circuit to the first shade coil for driving said drum in one direction to raise said platform from normally lowered position, and means engageable by said platform as it approaches raised position for moving said reversing switch to complete the circuit to the second shade coil to reverse the direction of rotation of said drum and to return the platform to lowered position.

7. Apparatus for displaying replicas of hollow containers, such as milk cartons and the like, comprising a base, an elevator supporting framework including a plurality of upright guide posts having their lower ends fixed to said base, a platform mounted for vertical movement on said guide posts and being adapted to support the lower end of a replica container, a pliable element having opposite ends thereof connected to the upper and lower surfaces of said platform, means for guiding the upper portion of said pliable element above said platform, a rotatable drum disposed to one side of said framework, means for guiding opposite end portions of said pliable element to define substantially parallel vertical runs of the pliable element, said last-named means being so arranged as to guide portion of said pliable element being wound about said drum, a reversible electric motor for driving said drum, a switch interposed in an electrical circuit to said motor and having means for completing a circuit to one side of the motor for driving said drum in one direction to raise said platform from a normally lowered position, means engageable by said platform as it approaches raised position to complete the circuit to the other side of said motor to reverse the direction of rotation of said drum to return the platform to lowered position, a normally closed stop switch connected in parallel with said firstnamed switch in said circuit 'to'the motor, and means ensaid runs to the drum and a medial gageble by the platform upon reaching lowered position for opening said stop switch to break the circuit to the electric motor when said first-named switch is open.

8. Improved display apparatus comprising a base, an elevator supporting framework mounted on said base, an elevator mounted for vertical movement on said elevator supporting framework, a housing mounted on said elevator, electrically operable means for fully raising and automatically lowering said elevator to thereby successively raise and lower said housing therewith, and means operable automatically upon the termination of each downward movement of said elevator for de-energizing said electrically operable means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Becker June 15, 1926 Germond Nov. 6, 1928 Bonitz June 16, 1931 Miles July 30, 1935 Heinmiller Nov. 18, 1941 Davis Aug. 1, 1950 Carter Oct. 28, 1952 Scott Nov. 25, 1952

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