US3335511A

US3335511A - Rug storage and display apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3335511A
Application number: US431424A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fromme Hans-Georg; Sauerborn Herbert
Original assignee: Fromme Foerderanlagen GmbH
Current assignee: Fromme Foerderanlagen GmbH
Priority date: 1964-02-17
Filing date: 1965-02-09
Publication date: 1967-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1984-08-15
Also published as: AT249311B; CH418809A; NL6501625A; NL137068A; DE1289276B; DE1302996B; GB1066561A; BE659378A

Description

lg- 15, 957 HANS-GEORG FRoMME ET AL 3,3355l1 RUG STORAGE AND DISPLAY APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 9, 1965 ug. 15, 1967 HAN5GE0RG FROMME ET AL 3,335,51

RUG STORAGE AND DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Huw/A MAMMA, m2( w Aug. l5, 1967 HANS-GEORG FRQMME ET A1. 3,335,511

RUG STORAGE AND DISPLAY APPARATUS C5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 9, 1965 United States Patent 3,335,511 RUG STORAGE AND DISPLAY APPARATUS Hans-Georg Fromme and Herbert Sauerborn, Wetzlar, Germany, assignors to Fromme, Forderanlagen G.m.b.H., Wetzlar, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Feb. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 431,424 Claims priority, application Germany, Feb. 14, 1964, F 42,022; May 26, 1964, F 42,991 11 Claims. (Cl. 40-30) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for storing, displaying and returning to storage of rugs in hanging position is disclosed and claimed and includes a main rail hung from overhead hanging means, a plurality of storage rails also hung from the same hanging means and arran-ged parallelly to each other, each rail leading into the main rail which is at an angle to the parallel rails. The apparatus is provided with `rollers which ride on the rails. Hanger means depend from the rollers for suspending the rugs in vertical position for display and storage purposes. The apparatus is further provided with switching means and with means for lowering to the floor and then re-raising a rug which is being displayed.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling large objects, such as rugs, and particularly to apparatus for both storing and displayin-g such rugs.

To display rugs to prospective purchasers it has been proposed to employ hanger rods extending radially outward from a common axis and attached to a pillar or to the ceiling for rotation about said axis. With this type of arrangement, side-by-side comparison of several rugs could not be made.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide apparatus which makes possible the side-by-side comparison of diiterent rugs.

It is another object to provide apparatus for both storage and side-by-side display of more than one rug.

It is still another object to provide apparatus capable of removing rugs from storage and displaying them sideby-side, bot-h hanging and lying on the oor.

These and other objects which will appear are accomplished in accordance with the invention by means of apparatus comprising a plurality of hanger arrangements engaging a corresponding number of storage rails. These storage rails are arranged side-by-side, -generally parallel to each other, and all of them lead from the same side into a main rail which is positioned at an angle to said rails opposite one end of said rails. The connections between the storage rails and the main rail can be established by aps in a manner somewhat akin to railroad switches.

One or more lifting and lowering stations may be connected to the main rail. These consist of rail-sections suspended from cables which can be wound on motordriven pulleys. By means of this arrangement the rugs can rst be viewed as they hang side-by-side along the main rail, after which they can be lowered to the ground.

To restore such rugs to their storage rails, each switch may be provided with a handle for opening the switch. Alternatively, an actuating mechanism similar to a snapaction switch may be used in place of the handle. This presupposes that the rugs are withdrawn from storage in a predetermined sequence. Specically, if the storage rails lead into the main rail from left to right, then the ru-gs must also be drawn from left to right from the storage rails onto the display rails. Should it be desired to display the rugs in arbitrary sequence and still return each one 3,335,511 Patented Aug'. 15, 1967 ICC to its particular storage rail, then an additional switch operating handle is still required.

For further details reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein FIGURE l shows in somewhat diagrammatic form an embodiment of the invention viewed from above, i.e. from the direction of the ceiling;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation of the `apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 shows the guide rail in cross-section and also shows the hanger in its relation to the rail;

FIGURES 4m and 4b show, partly in cross-section, an elevation and a bottom view, respectively, of a switch arrangement for the apparatus of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 shows a bottom view of an alternative form of switch arrangement, together with 'a hanger mechanism cooperating with this switch arrangement; and

FIGURE 6 shows a view of the apparatus of FIGURE 5 as seen from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5 and with the hanger mechanism in a diiIerent position relative to the switch.

Where appropriate, the same reference numerals are used to designate similar elements in different figures.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, support rails 2 are anchored to ceiling 1. Main rail 3 and storage rails 4 are all attached to support rails 2. Extending beyond the end of main rail 3 are short rail sections 6a and 6b. These are suspended, respectively, from cables 7a, 7b and 7c, 7d.

The gaps between the various rail sections are kept so narrow that the carrier rollers, or wheels 5 (see FIG. 3) bridge these gaps without d-iil'iculty. If it is desired to have the sections 6a and 6b appreciably separated from each other, a bridging rail section may be inserted between them.

The suspension cables are rolled upon, and unrolled from corresponding pairs of pulleys 10 and 11, driven by motors 8 and 9, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 3, rug 12 is suspended from a hanger 13 consisting of an inverted U-shaped channel by means of rug pins, one of which is shown at 14. The channel 13 hangs from the carrier rollers 5 by a suspension rod 15.

The hanger arrangement shown in FIG. 3 may be employed to suspend all of the rugs 12a through 12g illustrated by way of example in FIGURES 1 Iand 2, it being understood that separate hangers 13, with adequate numbers of rollers 5 and pins 14, are used for the different rugs.

A typical switch 16 provided at the junction between each storage rail and the main rail is shown in detail in FIGS. 4a and 4b, to which reference may now -be had.

The guide slot 4a in the bottom of the storage rail 4 merges with the guide slot 3a in the bottom of the main rail 3 at the storage-rail, main-rail junction. A pointed iiap 16, -pivotable on a vertical shaft 16e at its broad end, is positioned directly below their junction. This flap 16 is placed in such a way as to form a barrier across the guide slot 4a when in the upper of its vtwo possible positions shown in FIG. 4b, and a barrier across slot 3a, when in the lower of said possible positions. Stop members 16b and 16s` limit the pivotal excursions of the pointed end of flap 16. A spring 16d engaging both rail 3 and ilap 16 normally urges this flap into engagement with stop 16b, thereby normally closing off guide slot 4a, and the storage rail containing that guide slot. Thus a rug 12, when hanging in its storage rail, is retained therein and prevented from sliding into the main rail. On the other hand, when the rug is pulled toward the main rail, the Hap 16 yields and opens the passage to the main rail, after which it returns to its original position under the pressure of spring 16d. A knob 16a, at-

tached to the lower end of the shaft on which flap 16 is mounted, can be turned to reopen the passage to storage rail 4 when it is desired to return the rug to that storage rail.

To make rugs available for customer selection, certain desired ones can be withdrawn from storage and pulled onto the main rail 3, where they hang side-by-side, in full view. To demonstrate their eiect on the iioor 17, the desired rugs are pulled onto rail sections 6a and 6b. By pushing buttons 18, motors 8 and 9 are activated and the rugs are lowered to the oor.

After inspection the motors r-oll cables 7a, 7b, and 7c, 7d up again, thereby drawing rail sections 6a, 6b Iback up to the level of main rail 3.

Thereafter the rugs on display may be pulled back into their respective storage rails, the appropriate switches 16 being opened in the process by means of their respective knobs 16a.

In FIGURES and 6, to which reference may now be had, there is again illustrated a typical junction between a storage rail, designated by reference numeral 21, and the main or display rail, designated by reference numeral 22 in these figures. A switch rail 23 is mounted for pivotal motion about shaft 24, so that it can assume either the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 5, or that shown in dot-dash lines in the same gure. Arm 25a of lever linkage 25 is attached to switch rail 23. Another arm 25b of linkage 25 is pivotally attached to one end of lever 26, whose other end is subjected to pressure fromI coil spring 27. A roller 25d is mounted on linkage pivot 25C.

On rails 21 and 22 there travel the carrier rollers 28 from whose axle support member 29 is suspended. In FIGURE 5 these rollers are shown in yposition along main rail 22, while in FIGURE 6 they are shown in position along storage rail 21. As shown in FIG. 6, rug 30 is attached with pins 31 to support member 29.

It will be understood that each rug will normally be suspended from several support members 29. That one of these support members for any given rug which is the first to leave the storage rail (and also the last to reenter the storage rail) is provided with a protrusion 29a at the same level as roller 25d. This protrusion is shown in both FIGURES 5 and 6.

As a rug 30 is drawn out from its storage rail 21, support member 29 pushes open switch 23. By virtue of the snap-like action of lever linkage 25 cooperating with lever 26 and spring 27, this switch then remains in its open position,

When the rug returns to its storage rail 21, the -protrusion 29d, in moving past roller 25d, displaces that roller and actuates the linkage to cause switch 23 to snap back into its closed position.

In order that each rug, after being displayed, may be returned to its properstorage rail, care should be taken that, in an arrangement in which the movement out of the storage rails is from left to right, the rug hanging farthest to the left is pulled out first, after which those progressively further to the right are pulled out. In `restoring the rugs the one pulled out last must then be restored first.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for storing, displaying and returning to storage of rugs in hanging position, said apparatus comprising a main rail hung from overhead hanging means,

a plurality lof storage rails also hung from said hanging means, said storage rails being arranged substantially parallelly and side-by-side to each other and each leading into said main rail from the same side with said main rail being positioned at an angle to said rails opposite one end of said rails,

rollers engaging said rails for movement of rugs between said storage and main rails, and

hanger means depending from said rollers for suspend ing rugs in vertical position for storage and display, said main rail, rollers and hanger means cooperating to permit movement of stored rugs hanging from said hanger means from a storage area to display area and back to the storage area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising switch means at the junction between each said storage rail and said main rail, said switch means being operable to alternately close said storage rail oit from said main rail and establish an open path between said last-named rails, and means yieldingly urging said switch means to close said storage rail oi from said main rail when said rollers means are on the storage rail, t-o open and hold open said path when said rollers move from said storage rail onto said main rail and to reclose said storage rail off from' said main rail when said rollers move from said main rail onto said storage rail.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a handle for manually operating said switch means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising switch means at the junction between each said storage rail and said main rail, said switch means being operable to alternately close said storage rail oit from said main rail and establish an open path between said last-named rails, and snap-action means for operating said switch means to open and hold open said path when said rollers move from said storage rail onto said main rail and to reclose said storage rail off from said main rail when said rollers move from said main rail onto said storage rail.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that said switch means comprises a member pivotable to block and unblock said path between said storage and main rails.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized in that said member is pivotable by said snap-action means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that one of said hanger means is provided with a protrusion, and in that said snap-action means is provided with an opposing protrusion, said snap-action means being responsive to engagement of said protrusion to pivot said member to block said path.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising lifting and lowering stations positioned at least at one end of said main rail.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 characterized in that each said station comprises a rail section, cables from which said rail section is suspended, and motor driven pulleys for reeling up said cables.

10. Apparatus for storing, displaying and returning to storage of rugs in hanging position, said apparatus comprising a main rail hung from a ceiling, a plurality of storage rails also hung from said ceiling arranged parallel to each other side-by-side and all leading into said main rail from the same side, said main rail being opposite one end of said side rails, rollers engaging said rails for movement of rugs between said storage and main rails, hanger means for suspending rugs from said rollers, switch means at the junction between each said storage rail and said main rail, said s-witch means being operable to alternately close said storage rail off from said main rail and establish an open path between said last-named rails, means yieldingly urging said switch means to close said storage rail from said main -rail when said roller means are on the storage rail, to open and hold open said path when said rollers move from said storage rail onto said main rail and to reclose said storage rail oit from said main rail when said rollers move from said main rail onto said storage rail, and switch operating means for operating said switch means.

11. Apparatus for storing, displaying and returning to storage of rugs in hanging position, said apparatus comprising a main rail hung from a ceiling, a plurality of storage rails also hung from said ceiling arranged parallei to each other side-by-side and all leading into said main rail from the s ame side, said main rail being opposite one end of said side rails, rollers engaging said rails for movement of rugs between said storage and main rails, hanger means for suspending rugs from said rollers, switch means at the junction Ibetween each storage rail and said main rail, said switch means being operable to alternately close said storage rail oit from said main rail and establish an open path between said last-named rails, switch operating means for operating said switch means to open and hold open said path when said rollers move from said storage rail onto said main rail and to reclose said storage rail o from said main rail when said rollers move from said main rail onto said storage rails, said switch means comprising a member pivotable by said switch operating means to block and unblock said path between said storage and main rails, and further characterized in that one of said hanger means is provided with a protrusion, and in that said switch operating means is provided with an opposing protrusion, said switch operating means being responsive to engagement of said protrusions to pivot said pivotable member to block said path.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,009,797 7/ 1935 Hathaway et al. 40-52 2,009,798 7/ 1935 Hathaway et al. 40-53 2,009,799 7/ 1935 Hathaway et al. Ll052 2,526,823 10/ 1950 Manseld 40-78 2,693,770 11/1954 Hubscher 104-48 X 3,081,710 3/1963 Dehne 104-88 3,103,183 9/1963 Bradt et al. 104-88 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. W. GRIEB, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR STORING, DISPLAYING AND RETURNING TO STORAGE OF RUGS IN HANGING POSITION, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A MAIN RAIL HUNG FROM OVERHEAD HANGING MEANS, A PLURALITY OF STORAGE RAILS ALSO HUNG FROM SAID HANGING MEANS, SAID STORAGE RAILS BEING ARRANGED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLELLY AND SIDE-BY-SIDE TO EACH OTHER AND EACH LEADING INTO SAID MAIN RAIL FROM THE SAME SIDE WITH SAID MAIN RAIL BEING POSITIONED AT AN ANGLE TO SAID RAILS OPPOSITE ONE END OF SAID RAILS, ROLLERS ENGAGING SAID RAILS FOR MOVEMENT OF RUGS BETWEEN SAID STORAGE AND MAIN RAILS, AND HANGER MEANS DEPENDING FROM SAID ROLLERS FOR SUSPENDING RUGS IN VERTICAL POSITION FOR STORAGE AND DISPLAY, SAID MAIN RAIL, ROLLERS AND HANGER MEANS COOPERATING TO PERMIT MOVEMENT OF STORED RUGS HANGING FROM SAID HANGER MEANS FROM A STORAGE AREA TO DISPLAY AREA AND BACK TO THE STORAGE AREA.