US3343777A - Display stand - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 26, 1967 R. BECKER 3,343,777

DISPLAY STAND Filed April 14, 1965 s Sheets-:Sheet 1 Fig.

Fig.2

Inventor." I

Arron vs/5 p 1967 R. BECKER 3 5 D1 5 PLAY STAND Filed April 14, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 nvenfor: P04; 5614 FR Sept. 26, 1967 R. BECKER 3,343,777

DISPLAY STAND Filed April 14, 1965 rev In van for: R04 F 35: K5)? MMW 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,343,777 DISPLAY STAND Rolf Becker, Niederhohnerstrasse 6-8, 344 Eschwege, Germany Filed Apr. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 448,042 4 Claims. (Cl. 248-455) The present invention relates to display stands, such as picture frames, frames for mirrors, and stands used for displaying advertising material.

Display stands of this general kind generally have a slanted leg hinged to the back side of the stand and having a longitudinal edge such that it substantially coincides with the respective planes of two right angle edges of the stand, so that the latter may be selectively placed in either an upright or a sidewise position.

Display stands of this kind as heretofore known have the disadvantage that the stability afforded by the leg is not fully satisfactory, since the location of the leg with respect to the center of gravity of the stand is unfavorable, and the angle formed by the leg with respect to the stand proper is not safely maintained.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved display stand of the general kind above referred to which can be be placed in either an upright or a sidewise position and will be entirely stable in either position, thereby avoiding the disadvantages of display stands as heretofore known.

This object of the invention is attained by mounting the leg so that it is not only hinged, but also rotatable about a suitably selected pivot point, preferably about the center point of the stand.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved display stand of the general kind above referred to which permits an adjustment of the angle between the leg and the stand proper. This has the advantage that the angle can be adjusted for the most favorable slant of the stand in either the upright or the sidewise position thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved display stand the leg of which can be releasably secured in any selected angular position. Such releasable locking of the leg may be effected by a spreader arm hinged at one end to either the stand or the leg and at its other end engaging a roughened surface on the stand or the leg, as the case may be.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims constituting part of the application.

In the accompanying drawing, several preferred embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a rear view of the stand in an upright position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the support means of the stand;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the stand placed in a sidewise position;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the stand according to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a modification of the stand; and

FIG. 6 is a rear view of FIG. 5.

Referring first to FIGS.'1 through 4, the display stand, such as a picture frame, exemplified in these drawings comprises a generally plate-shaped member 1 which constitutes the stand proper. Plate member 1 supports a support member 3 which is pivotally mounted on plate member 1 by means of a pivot 2. The pivot axis is preferably located in the center of the plate member, as can best be seen in FIG. 3. Support member 3 supports leg 5, which 3,343,777 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 is connected to it by a suitable hinge 4. The hinge permits pivoting the leg 5 in the direction of arrow 6 to place the leg, and with it the entire stand, in the desired favorable position of slant on a support base. The position of the leg when folded back upon plate member 1 is indicated at 5' by dotted lines.

FIG. 1 shows the display stand, which has a rectangular outline, as being placed upon one of its narrow sides; that is, in the upright position. If it be desired to place the stand in a sidewise position, it is necessary merely to turn the leg about pivot 2. The position then occupied by leg 4 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The display stand is preferably equipped with adjustment means for adjusting the slant of the leg in reference to the plane of plate member 1. These adjustment means are shown as a spreader arm 7 which is pivotally mounted at one end on support bar 3, or on plate member 1 directly, by means of a pivot pin or hinge S. The other end of arm 7 is engageable with a roughened surface 9. This surface may be formed by a strip of sandpaper or by a strip of corrugated material, such as sheet metal. It is of course also possible simply to cut notches in the leg material, or to roughen the material in any other suitable fashion.

The display stand according to FIG. 6 employs the same principle. It is distinguished from the previously described stand in that the leg 5 of the preceding figures is replaced by a generally U-shaped leg 5a and that the spreader arm is replaced by an arm having forks 7a. The tips of the forks are bent outwardly, as is clearly shown in FIG. 6, and will engage with teeth or notches 9a formed in inwardly bent edge portions 14 or branches I 13 of leg 5a.

The support bar 3a is also generally U-shaped. Its branches 11 and 12 are clampingly engaged by branches 13 of leg 5a when the latter is folded back upon plate member 1, as is indicated in FIG. 5 at 5a. This has the advantage that leg 5a will be releasably retained on the plate member when it is desired to support the display stand by a nail or hook. A hole 10 in leg 5a may be provided to facilitate suspension of the display stand.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certain now preferred examples and embodiments of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A display stand comprising a generally plate-shaped display member, a leg member of generally U-shaped configuration, pivot means rotatably and hingedly connecting said leg member to the plate member at the base portion of the U-shaped leg member, each of the branches of the leg member having an inwardly directed toothed edge portion, and a spreader arm hingedly linked at one end to said plate-shaped member and engageable at the other end with said roughened edge portion for retaining the leg member in a selected angular position in reference to the plate member.

2. A display stand according to claim 1, wherein said spreader arm has two forks each engageable with one of said directed toothed edge portions.

3. A display stand according to claim 1, wherein said pivot means comprises a support member rotatably mounted on said plate member, the base of said U-shaped leg member being hingedly mounted on said support member.

4. A display stand according to claim 2, wherein said support member has a generally U-shaped configuration, the branches of said leg member being clampingly engageable with the branches of the support member'in FOREIGN PATENTS a posltlon of the leg member substantxally parallel to 793,630 11/1935 Francethe plate member.

5 References We ROY D. FRAZIER, Prin'zary Examiner. UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,840,659 1/1932 Eburne et a1. 248456 CLAUDE RoyExami'ler- 1,959,746 5/ 1934 248-455 K.J.WINGERT,AssistantExaminer. 2,456,720 12/1948 M1168 40-1521

Claims (1)

1. A DISPLAY STAND COMPRISING A GENERALLY PLATE-SHAPED DISPLAY MEMBER, A LEG MEMBER OF GENERALLY U-SHAPED CONFIGURATION, PIVOT MEANS ROTATABLY AND HINGEDLY CONNECTING SAID LEG MEMBER TO THE PLATE MEMBER AT THE BASE PORTION OF THE U-SHAPED LEG MEMBER, EACH OF THE BRANCHES OF THE LEG MEMBER HAVING AN INWARDLY DIRECTED TOOTHED EDGE PORTION, AND A SPREADER ARM HINGEDLY LINKED AT ONE END TO SAID PLATE-SHAPED MEMBER AND ENGAGEABLE AT THE OTHER END WITH SAID ROUGHENED EDGE PORTION FOR RETAINING THE LEG MEMBER IN A SELECTED ANGULAR POSITION IN REFERENCE TO THE PLATE MEMBER.

Images