US3062607A

US3062607A - Display case

Info

Publication number: US3062607A
Application number: US828257A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl E Johnson
Original assignee: KELLING NUT CO
Current assignee: KELLING NUT CO
Priority date: 1959-07-20
Filing date: 1959-07-20
Publication date: 1962-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 1979-11-06

Description

Nov. 6, 1962 c. E. JOHNSON 3,062,607

DISPLAY CASE c. E. JOHNSON 3,062,607

Nov. 6, 1962 DISPLAY CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 20, 1959 3,062,607 DISPLAY CASE Carl E. Johnson, Wilmette, lll., assigner to The Kelling Nut Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed July zo, 1959, ser. No. 828,257 3 Claims. (Cl. 312-1-17) The present invention relates generally to nut display cases and more particularly to a nut display case construction which is provided with interlocking means for the movable parts disposed therein.

High quality nuts are ordinarily sold to consumers from relatively shallow bins contained within a heated display case. To serve the customer, the seller scoops the nuts out of the bins into individual packages. In the process of scooping the 'nuts out ofthe bins, and especially when the bins are rather full, the nuts tend to pile up adjacent the walls of the bins and if not properly retained, spill over the Ysides of the bins into adjacent bins and/ or into the display case. lSuch spilling of nuts not only limits the capacity of the bins but also necessitates resorting of the nuts Vand/ or frequent cleaning of the display case to Yprevent the accumulation of nuts beneath the bins.

Separators have been previously Aprovided between the bins of nut display cases, but such separators were diflicult to clean and permitted particles to fall between the separators and the bins. Moreover, the bins tended to move about as the seller scooped the nuts from the bins.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is the provision of a display case which is provided with means for interlocking removable nut bins in position, which interlocking means is so constructed that the nuts therein are prevented from falling between the bins and/or into adjacent bins. Another object is the provision of a nut display case which is so constructed that relatively infrequent cleaning is required, but when cleaning is required, the construction is such that the display case may be easily cleaned. A further object is the provision of easily manipulated interlocking means for securing parts of the display case in position, which interlocking means do not detract from the appearance of the display case.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of a nut display case showing various features of the present invention, portions of the nut display 'case being broken away to show the interior thereof;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken generally along line 2--2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 yis a reduced horizontal sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2';

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken generally along lines 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View taken generally along line 7-7 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the interlocking member shown in FIGURES 4 through '1; l

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken generally along line 9;9 of FIGURE 3, with the drawing being 'foreshortened in both directions by breaking away portions; and,

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of kone of the side interlocking partitions shown in'FIGURE 3.

The nut display case shown in the drawings includes a housing having end walls, back wall, bottom wall, top

fice

wall and a removable transparent front wall. A series of bins of bulk nuts are disposed in side by side relationship in the lower portion of the housing and are supported therein by the bottom wall. Means are provided between the bins and between the bins and the end walls for interlocking the bins in position on the bottom wall and for preventing nuts within the bins from spilling over the sides thereof. Additional means are also provided to interlock the transparent wall in position.

More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment the display case includes a housing 10 which is made of a high strength material such as steel and is generally rectangular in horizontal cross section. The housing 10 is constructed so that it is selfsustaining and includes a pair of upright end walls 12, an upright back wall 14 suitably connected to the rear edge ofthe end walls 12, a lower front wall 16 suitably connected to the lower forward edges of the end walls 12, and a horizontally extending top wall 18 suitably connected to the upper edges of the end walls 12 and the back wall 14. A horizontally extending bottom wall 20 is disposed within the housing 10 and is suitably connected toy the front wall 16, back wall 14 and end walls 12. The corners of the housing 10 are rounded to enhance the appearance of the display case.

In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of rearwardly extending, elongated, relatively shallow bins 22 for bulk nuts are disposed in side by side relationship on the bottoni wall 20 of the housing 10. The bins 22 have upright side walls 24, horizontally extending bottom walls 26, inwardly inclined front and rear walls 2S and 30, respectively. The lips 31 of the side walls 24 of the bins 22 are generally horizontal and are parallel to each other.

The 'bins 22 are interlocked in position by interlocking means 32 which are so constructed that they maintain the bins 22 in position and also prevent nuts from spilling over the side walls 24 of the bins 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the interlocking means 32 includes a gen-r erally vertically extending intermediate partition 34 disposed between the bins 22 and generally vertically eX- tending side partitions 36 disposed between the bins 22 and the end walls 12 of the housing 10. i

As (shown particularly in FIGURE 9, the intermediate partition 34 is provided with a ange 40 which extends at right angles to the plane of the partition 34 at the bottom thereof. The flange 40 is interposed between one of the bins 22 and the bottom wall 20` of the housing 10, to interlock the intermediate partition 34 in position.

Nuts within the bins 22 are prevented from falling between ythe intermediate partition 34 and the adjacent inner side walls 24 of the bins 22 by downwardly directed, elongated, U-shaped channels 42 which are positioned so as to tit over the lips 31 of the inner side walls 24 for substantially their entire length. The channels 42 are attached to the respective sides of the partition 34 by suitable means vsuch as a plurality of rivets 44 connecting downward extensions 45 of the inner legs of the channels 42 to the partition 34.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 9, the marginal portions of the intermediate partition 34 are bent back upon themselves to` provide rounded corners.

Nuts are prevented from spilling over the outerside walls 24 of the lbins y22 by the side partitions 36. Each of the side partitions 36 is provided with upper and lower outwardly extending

flanges

46 and 48, respectively, which space lthe 'side partitions 36 from the associated end wall v12.

As show n in FIGURE 9, each side partition 36 -is-inte'r`- locked with the housing 10 by a downwardly extending marginal portion 5 0 of the upper il'ange 46 which portion is slidably received by elongated, horizontally extending clip `52 on the end vwall'12`of the housing 10. The clip 3 52 also serves to retain the lower margin of an end wall window 51 which is provided to afford the purchaser a side view of the contents of the display case, the upper margin being retained by a similar clip 53.

The forward edge of each side partition 36 is provided with an outwardly directed ilange 55 to enhance the appearance of the display case.

To prevent the nuts from spilling over the outer side walls 24 of the bins 22, downwardly directed, elongated, U-shaped channels 54 are positioned so as to lit over the lips 31 of the adjacent outer side walls 24 for substantially their entire length. The channels 54 are attached to the respective side partitions 36 by suitable means such as rivets 56 connecting a downward extension 57 of the outer legs of the channels 54 to the respective side partitions 36.

As shown particularly in FIGURE 9, the side partitions 36, the bins 22, and the intermediate partition 34 cooperate with each other to securely interlock the

partitions

34 and 36 and bins 22 in position. To unlock the interlocking arrangement thus formed, the side partitions 36 are disengaged and then the bins 22 are separated from the intermediate partition 34.

The portion of the housing in front of the bins 22 is enclosed by a rectangular front panel or wall 58 of transparent material. The panel 58 is connected to the housing 1G so that it may be pivoted about its lower edge for cleaning or other maintenance. As shown in FIG- URE 2, the bottom edge of the transparent panel 58 is disposed in a guideway 59 formed along the upper edge of the front wall 16.

The side edges of the panel 58, which are protected by channels 60, are received by guideways 62 formed by inwardly directed llanges 64 connected to turned-back forward marginal portions of the end walls 12. To enhance the appearance of the display case and also to allow the purchaser to view the nuts in the bins from above, the transparent panel 58 and the associated forward edges of the end walls 12 are slanted rearwardly.

The transparent panel S8 is interlocked in position by a pair of interlocking members 68 disposed on the upper corner portions of the transparent panel 58. Each of the interlocking members 68 includes an elongated generally U-shaped body part 70 which slidably straddles the adjacent flange 64, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. The upper edge of the corner portion of the transparent panel 58 is engaged by a downwardly-turned hook part 72 connected to the upper end of the forward leg 74 of the body part 70.

The rearward leg 76 of the body part 70 is extended outwardly and is provided with a rearwardly extending flange 78 which, in cooperation with the forward ange 55 of the associated side partition 36, prevents inward movement of the locking member 68.

The upper portion of the housing 10 is enclosed with a generally rectangular panel or wall 80 of transparent material which is hinged at its upper edge. The side edges of the upper panel 80, which are protected by channels 82, are received by guideways 84 formed by inwardly directed llanges 86 connected to turned-back forward marginal portions of the end walls 12.

The upper panel 80 and the associated forward edges of the end walls 12 are slanted rearwardly, as shown in FIGURE 2, at an angle to the front transparent panel 58 to enhance the appearance of the display case.

The upper transparent wall 80 is locked by suitable locking means, such as screws 88, which extend through the side channels 82 and are threadedly engaged with the flanges 86. The forward legs of the side channels 82 are extended downwardly in order to hide the hook parts 72 of the interlocking members 68.

Suitable heating means (not shown) are connected to the upper wall 18 of the housing 10 to heat the nuts within the bins 22. The back wall 14 of the housing, the intermediate partition '.34 and the side partitions 36 are preferably made of a material that may be polished to enhance the appearance of the nuts stored in the bins 22.

In the illustrated embodiment, portions of the back wall 14 of the housing are hinged to enable the seller to gain access to the display case to package nuts for the customer.

As can be seen from the above, a display case is provided which holds a large quantity of nuts in bulk form without the possibility of nuts spilling over the sides of Vthe bins. The display case is so constructed that it can Ibe easily disassembled for cleaning, and yet the display case parts are securely locked in position.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the above described nut display case without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A nut display case comprising a housing, a series of bins disposed in side by side relationship in said housing, said bins having parallel lips along adjacent sides thereof, an upright partition disposed between a pair of said bins and extending to a position substantially above the lips of said bins, a flange connected generally at right angles to the lower margin of said partition, said flange being located under the bottom of one bin, and a horizontally disposed, downwardly directed, generally U-shaped channel connected to each side of said partition in such a position as to t over the adjacent lip of said bin.

2. A nut display case comprising a housing, a series of bins disposed in side by side relationship in said housing, said bins having parallel lips along adjacent sides thereof, an upright intermediate partition disposed between a pair of said bins and extending to a position substantially above the lips of said bins, a ange connected generally at right angles to the lower margin of the intermediate partition, said ange being located under one bin, upright side partitions located between the end walls of the housing and the bins and connected to the end walls, and a horizontally disposed, downwardly directed, generally U-shaped channel connected to each side partition and each side of said intermediate partition in such a position as to tit over the adjacent lip of said bin.

3. A nut display case comprising a housing, two rearwardly extending bins disposed in side by side relationship in said housing, said bins having parallel lips along adjacent sides thereof an upright intermediate partition disposed between the bins and extending to a position substantially above the lips of said bins, a ange connected generally at right angles to the lower margin of said intermediate partition and interposed between one of said bins and the bottom wall of said housing, upright side partitions located between the end walls of the housing and the bins, a horizontally extending clip connected to the inside surface of each end wall, an L-shaped ange connected to the upper margin of each side partition in such a position as to be received by said clip, and a horizontally disposed, downwardly directed, generally U- shaped channel connected to each side partition and each side of said intermediate partition in such a position as to lit over the adjacent lip of said bin, said channels being of sufficient length to cover substantially the entire length of said lip.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,158,807 Husz Nov. 2, 1915 1,601,376 Sherer Sept. 28, 1926 1,642,466 Sorenson Sept. 13, 1927 ,1,666,851 Good Apr. 17, 1928 1,721,132 Orthwine July 16, 1929 l1,882,375 Vanderveld Oct. 11, 1932 2,117,404 Curtis May 17, 1938 2,613,860 Hoffman Oct. 14, 1952 2,661,996 Holderle Dec. 8, 1953