US3225473A

US3225473A - Chart for indicating the sales space occupancy periods of products displayed for sale

Info

Publication number: US3225473A
Application number: US275577A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles R Bailey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: ELSCINT IMAGING Inc; Elscint Ltd; Elscint Inc
Priority date: 1963-04-25
Filing date: 1963-04-25
Publication date: 1965-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 1982-12-28

Description

Dec. 28, 1965 c. R. BAILEY 3,225,473

CHART FOR INDICATING THE SALES SPACE OCCUPANCY PERIODS OF PRODUCTS DISPLAYED FOR SALE Filed April 25, 1963 LICENCE MAKE TYPE

FIG. 6

FIG. 3

' INVENTOR CHARLES R. BAILEY FIG. 4

United States Patent 3 225 473 CHART FOR INDICATIEVG THE SALES SPACE OCCUPANCY PERIQDS 0F PRODUCTS DIS- PLAYED FOR SALE Charles R. Bailey, 310 Pomona Ave., Burlington, Ontario, Canada Filed Apr. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 275,577 4 Claims. (Cl. 40124) The present invention relates to a chart for indicating the sales space occupancy periods of products displayed for sale and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements-of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a simple and compact device consisting of a frame wherein is displayed one side of an endless belt vertically divided into spaces. Partial front wall sections at either side of the device are marked from top to bottom with numerals 1 to 30 and correspond to the vertical spaces on the endless belt. Novel means is provided for moving the displayed portion of the belt downwardly as desired. The device is such that it may be utilized to give information at a glance as to stock on hand with reference to (a) total inventory and (b) the time which each item of such stock has been on hand. The items of such stock are represented upon the exposed portion of the device with removable stickers forming a part of the invention. The device is particularly adaptable to the used car business, the various stickers representing cars on hand and their particular position with respect to the aforementioned side wall portions indicating the length of time such stock has been on hand.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a novel device of the character set forth which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yet effective and efficient in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method of control of sales of various articles.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel roll tensioning means forming a part of the invention.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel operational means for moving an endless belt forming a part of the invention.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel removable stickers forming a part of the invention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, of an embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partly in section and partly broken away, illustrating an operational handle and associated mechanism forming a part of the invention,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to FIGURE 3 but illustrating the opposite end of the roller shown in FIGURE 3 and its mounting bracket,

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 but illustrating an upper roller and tensioning device forming a part of the invention, and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a tag or sticker forming a part of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein a device of the character set forth comprising a frame having a rear wall with an upwardly projecting portion 10 provided with openings 11 whereby 3,225,473 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 the device may be attached to a wall or the like, side walls 12, a top wall 13, a bottom wall 14, an upper front Wall portion 15, a lower front wall portion 16 and a pair of side wall portions 17.

In the upper portion of the frame and concealed by the upper front wall portion 15 is a flanged spool 18 in each end of which is affixed a block 19 having slidably mounted therein an axially extending shaft 20 adapted to be adjustably held in position by a set screw 21.

A bracket 22 is mounted on each adjacent side wall 12 and a reduced portion 23 of the shaft 20 extends into a vertical slot 24 formed therein.

The shafts 20 are each provided with an annular groove 25 exteriorly of the spool 18, such grooves being indicated at 25 and in each of which is mounted a hook 26 carried at the lower end of a tension spring 27 the upper ends of which are connected to studs 28 which are exteriorly threaded for the reception of wing nuts 29, it being apparent that the studs 28 extend through openings 30 in the top wall 13. Washers 31 are interposed between the wall 13 and nuts 29, all as illustrated in FIGURE 5 which shows one end structure concerned with the spool 18, it being understood that the other end thereof is identical in structure.

The lower flanged hollow spool 32 provided in one end thereof with a fixed block 33 having slidably mounted therein a shaft 34 which may be adjustably fixed in position with relation to the block 33 by a set screw 35. A reduced portion 36 of the shaft 34 is mounted in a bracket 37 affixed to the adjacent side wall 12.

The other end of the spool 32 has slidably mounted therein a collar 38 in which is fixed a cylindrical member 39 having an outwardly extending shaft 40 which extends slidably through the end of the spool 32 and through a bracket 41 afiixed to the adjacent Wall 12 and which terminates in a handle 42. A compression spring 43 surrounds the shaft 40 and bears against the member 39 and the inner face of the end wall 44 of the spool 32. The bracket 41 is provided with a recess 41a in which the handle 42 normally lies.

Entrained over the

spools

18 and 32 is an endless belt 45 of canvas or the like which is provided with vertically spaced horizontally extending dividing lines 46 forming therebetween vertically aligned spaces 47.

Indicia 48, preferably in the form of numerals reading from 1 to 30, inclusive, are inscribed upon the outer faces of the front wall portions 17 and are so spaced as to each always register with the space 47 immediately adjacent thereto regardless of the positioning of the belt 45.

To complete the device there .is provided a plurality of tags or stickers as illustrated, for example, at 49 in FIGURE 6.

In operation, the device may be used, for example, in connection with the used car industry. In such case, as a car or cars are acquired by the particular concern, a tag 49 may be filled out giving the basic information concerning the same and, being provided with an adhesive 51) on its rear face may then be placed in the uppermost space 47 where it will presently register with the numeral 1, thus indicating that the particular car or cars are on hand in the concern for the first day.

This procedure is followed each day first, however, moving the exposed portion of the belt 45 downwardly a distance of one space 47. This is accomplished by grasping the handle 42 within the recess 41:; and pulling the same outwardly until a stud 51 extending inwardly from the inner wall of the spool 32 is received in a notch 52 in the member 38, it being apparent that pulling the handle 42 outwardly will act to move the member 39 and its attached member 38 outwardly so that such engagement between the stud 51 and the notch 52 may take place. When such action does take place against the action of the spring 43, the spool 32 may be rotated to thus move the belt 45. Upon release of the handle 42, the spring 43 will act to return the device to its normal condition as shown in FIGURE 3 thus keeping the handle out of the way from accidental movement by persons passing in the neighborhood.

Thus it will be seen that from day to day various entries may be made by placing stickers each day in the space indicated at 1 and that at all times during a thirty day period, salesmen and managers may see at a glance the length of time each particular car has been with the concern. Cars which have not been sold during the thirty day period may then have their stickers removed from the belt 45 and placed upon the exposed surface of the front wall portion 16 as shown in FIGURE 1 thereby indicating that special attention should be given to the sale of such cars.

If desired, the exposed portion of the front walls 17 may be given distinctive colors as, for example, those portions thereof bearing the numbers 1 to may be colored green while those portions having the indicia 11 to 20 may be colored amber while the remainder thereof may be colored red.

It will also be apparent that the belt may be properly tensioned by manipulating the wing nuts 29 in conventional manner.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A movable chart device comprising; a back wall; an upper wall portion formed along the upper edge of said back Wall substantially normal thereto; a lower wall portion formed along the lower edge of said back wall substantially normal thereto; side wall portions formed along opposite side edges of said back wall substantially normal thereto; an upper roller rotatably mounted adjacent said upper wall and vertically movable along a predetermined path parallel to the plane of said back wall; slotted brackets at each end of said upper roller fastened to said side walls for movably mounting same as aforesaid; coil spring means having one end fastened to said upper wall portion and the other end to said roller at each end thereof tensioned to urge same towards said upper wall portion; said roller being vertically displaceable against said spring along said path; a lower roller rotatably mounted adjacent said lower wall; an endless belt entrained around said rollers and tensioned by said spring means; vertically spaced indicia indicating the dates of the month located along at least one said side wall portion; horizontal lines on said belt dividing said belt into parallel information receiving areas of a predetermined width equal to the spacing of said indicia, said areas being movable into horizontal alignment with said indicia and means for manually moving said belt.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 including threaded rod means extending through said upper wall portion and manually adjustable means in engagement therewith, and wherein said coil spring means are attached to respective said rods for adjustment thereof.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein information stickers are provided for removably mounting on said belt in said areas.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 including axle shaft means extending from opposite ends of said upper roller, and annular grooves formed in said shaft means for engagement by said spring means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 302,723 7/1884 Grimes -96 582,284 5/1897 Harris 40-96 1,384,293 7/1921 Zieba 40-86 1,518,063 12/1924 Gottfried 4096 2,592,100 4/1952 Adler 4019,5 2,904,915 9/1959 Steward 4096 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,435 5/ 1900 Great Britain. 17,630 8/1911 Great Britain. 242,482 10/ 1948 Switzerland.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, JEROME SCHNALL,

Examiners.

Claims

1. A MOVABLE CHART DEVICE COMPRISING; A BACK WALL; AN UPPER WALL PORTION FORMED ALONG THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID BACK WALL SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL THERETO; A LOWER WALL PORTION FORMED ALONG THE LOWER EDGE OF SID BACK WALL SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL THERETO; SIDE WALL PORTIONS FORMED ALONG OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF SID BACK WALL SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL THERETO; AN UPPER ROLLER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID UPPER WALL AND VERTICALLY MOVABLE ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SID BACK WALL; SLOTTED BRACKETS AT EACH END OF SAID UPPER ROLLER FASTENED TO SAID SIDE WALLS FOR MOVABLY MOUNTING SAME AS AFORESAID; COIL SPRING MEANS HAVING ONE END FASTENED TO SAID UPPER WALL PORTION AND THE OTHER END TO SAID ROLLER AT EACH END THEREOF TENSIONED TO URGE SAME TOWARDS SAID UPPER WALL PORTION; SAID ROLLER BEING VERTICALLY DISPLACEABLE AGAINST SAID SPRING ALONG SAID PATH; A LOWER ROLLER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID LOWER WALL; AN ENDLESS BELT ENTRAINED AROUND SAID ROLLERS AND TEMSIONED BY SID SPRING MEANS; VERTICALLY SPACED INDICIA INDICATING THE DATES OF THE MONTH LOCATED ALONG AT LEAST ONE SAID SIDE WALL PORTION; HORIZONTAL LINES ON SAID BELT DIVIDING SAID BELT INTO PARALLEL INFORMATION RECEIVING AREAS OF A PREDETERMINED WIDTH EQUAL TO THE SPACING OF SAID INDICIA, SAID AREAS BEING MOVABLE INTO HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID INDICIA AND MEANS FOR MANUALLY MOVING SAID BELT.