US3418740A

US3418740A - Display bracket

Info

Publication number: US3418740A
Application number: US623441A
Authority: US
Inventors: Philip S Gray
Original assignee: SCHACK S Inc
Current assignee: SCHACK S Inc
Priority date: 1967-03-15
Filing date: 1967-03-15
Publication date: 1968-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1985-12-31

Description

Dec. 31, 1968 P. s. GRAY Y 3,418,740

DISPLAY BRACKET Filed March 15, 1967 Sheet of 2 v I NVEN TOR.

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/ Pam/P .5. 6 64) 5y {a I l' 2 I ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,418,740 DISPLAY BRACKET Philip S. Gray, Miami Beach, Fla., assignorto Schacks Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 623,441 2 Claims. (Cl. 40-313) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Sales card bearing display bracket capable of holding open substantially any container having a pivoted or hinged lid or cover to make visible the interior of the container, particularly suitable for counter and floor displays of luggage, fitted cases, trunks, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention the nature of the particular container and extolling its merits. The invention may have other and further uses as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

Description of the prior art Applicant does not know of any specific prior art relating to a device for maintaining a piece of luggage and similar containers open to a desired extent so that a prospective customer may view the interior of the luggage without objectionably handling it. Many pieces of luggage and such containers are not equipped with folding brace means at one or both sides thereof, and in many instances when a piece of luggage such as a suitcase was displayed in open position the suitcase was opened to a V-shape and then stood on end thus taking up an objectionable amount of space since it occupied more room than it would occupy when closed. At the present time most luggage is displayed closed, and it is necessary for a clerk to open and close various pieces of luggage in order to make a sale, especially where it is desired that many customers do not handle and thus soil luggage. As far as applicant knows there is now nothing on the market capable of properly displaying the interior of luggage and similar containers to the general public in an open salesroom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The instant invention embodies an extremely simple device, easily manipulated, highly durable, and pleasing in appearance. The device is in the form of a bracket adjustable to any size piece of luggage or similar container, capable of holding the container open to any desired extent, and which is provided with card holding means, and when the device is in use the luggage occupies no more counter space than it would have o'ccupied in closed position. *Further, the same device may be purchased by the public and used to maintain luggage in open position while packing the same, the card in that case being eliminated. It is therefore apparent with the instant invention and its advantages above pointed out, the problems of properly displaying luggage with the interior visible to a customer is completely solved and the customer has no need Whatever to handle the luggage on display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a piece of luggage with the display bracket embodying principles of the instant invention shown in operative association there with;

FIGURE 2 is a reduced side view of the structure of FIGURE 1 but showing the cover of the luggage in a different angle of elevation;

FIGURE 3 is also a side view of the nature of FIG- URE 2 showing a still difierent angle of elevation of the cover;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line IV-IV of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side view of a slightly different form of bracket also embodying principles of the instant invention;

FIGURE 6 is a side view of a still different form of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a side view of a further form of the invention; and

FIGURE 8 is a side view of a still different form of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The instant invention may be made in a number of diiferent styles without departing from the principles of the invention, and therefore several embodiments have been illustrated. The purchaser of the display bracket may therefore make a selection and not be committed to the same bracket as a close competitor may be utilizing, and where an individual customer purchases a bracket for home usage he may select the one he deems most apropos for his individual purposes.

That form of the instant invention seen in FIGURES 1-4 is shown associated with a piece of luggage which, by way of example only, is in the form of an attache case. This case comprises a bottom portion 1 and a cover 2 which is pivotally associated with the bottom.

The display bracket comprises a supporting bar 3, which in this instance is a flat bar, to each end of which a clamp 4 is pivoted by means of a pivot stud 5, both clamps being identical. Each clamp 4 is of substantially U-shape, as seen best in FIGURE 5, to receive the edge portion of the bottom and cover of the piece of luggage. A headed bolt 6 is threaded through the outer leg of the clamp and has a cap nut 7 on its inner end so that the edge of the bottom or top of the case may be gripped between the cap nut 7 and the pivot stud 5.

Secured, [as by soldering, welding, or in an equivalent manner to the inner side of the bar 3 are the spread ends of a wire 8 bent into V-shape with the apex projecting away from the bar 3. At the apex of the wire 8 a known form of spring clip is secured, the clamp projecting toward the bar 3. The spring clip 9 is designed to hold a card 10 with the wire 8 functioning as a back for the card. Upon this card any and suitable information concerning the particular piece of luggage may be printed for the customers convenience. Should a large card be desired, rather than the smaller one illustrated, it may be prevented from an accidental downward inclination by means of a rest 11 secured to and projecting from the bar 3 adjacent the lower end thereof.

In use the instant bracket is extremely simple but nonetheless effective. It is a simple expedient to determine the height to which the case lid 2 is to be held, then place the lower clamp 4 over the side edge of the case bottom 1 in the proper position, tighten the bolt 6, position the other clamp over the side edge of the lid or cover 2, and tighten the bolt 6, the pivotal connection of the clamps to the bar 3 permitting the clamps to be adjusted to properly engage the edges of the case. When so positioned, the bar 3 effectively maintains the lid open to the desired angle. It will be noted that the wire 8 extends inwardly of the case and the card 10 may be easily positioned by pinching the spring clip 9 and inserting the card. It will be especially noted that with the card so positioned, the open case occupies no more counter space than it would have occupied lying on its side when closed. The card extending over some of the interior of the case will not occlude a customers view to the extent that a good examination of the interior of the case cannot be had and there is no need of the customer handling the case.

In FIGURE 2 I have shown how the clamps may be adjusted relatively to the bar 3 to hold the case cover 2 in a fully upright position. In FIGURE 3 the bar and clamps are relatively so adjusted as to hold the case cover 2 at a lesser tangle than in FIGURE 1. These illustrations are to indicate the feasibility of maintaining a case open at any desired angle, and also to illustrate that the display bracket may be adjusted to support the cover of almost any size piece of luggage in open position.

The display bracket may be as decorative as desired and made of any suitable material such as metal, wood, or a thermosetting plastic.

The form of the invention seen in FIGURE 5 is the same as that above described insofar as the bar 3 and clamps 4 are concerned. The only difference is the elimination of the wire 8 and the card holding spring clip 9 is secured directly to the bar 3 adjacent the central portion thereof. This form of the invention is desirable for smaller pieces of luggage where a smaller card will be used.

In FIGURE 6 I have illustrated the display bracket in which the supporting bar is made of two

round pieces

12 and 13 telescopically associated, the pieces being held in the desired position of adjustment by means of a set screw 14 whereby the bracket is readily varied in length as desired. The card holding spring clip 9 is preferably secured adjacent the upper end of the larger bar piece 12. At the outer ends thereof, the

pieces

12 and 13 carry identical generally U-shaped edge embracing members 15-15 for receiving the edges of the bottom and cover sections of a piece of luggage.

In the form of the invention seen in FIGURE 7, the supporting bar is a solid piece 16 carrying a fixed generally U-shaped edge engaging member 17 at each end thereof. The card holding spring clip 9 in this instance is shown mounted at a different angle, extending parallel with the supporting bar 16 and secured to a pin 18 welded or equivalently attached to the bar 16 and projecting laterally therefrom.

In FIGURE 8 I have shown a form of the invention in which the supporting bar 19 is one piece, and carries an edge embracing spring clamp 20 at each end thereof which will automatically clamp the respective edge of a piece of luggage. In this instance the card holding spring clip 9 is secured directly to the bar 19, and also secured to the bar 19 is an inwardly projecting flat strip 21 acting as a backer for the card held in the spring clip.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a simple, easily manipulated, attractive and eflicient display bnacket for maintaining a piece of luggage in open position for examination by a customer without the need of handling the luggage. Further, the display bracket is economical to manufacture and highly durable. Where the term piece of luggage is used herein, it is to be construed as including all types of luggages, handbags, fitted cases, trunks, and various containers having a generally similar construction.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A display bracket to hold open a piece of luggage having a bottom and a top pivotal relatively to said bottom to display the interior thereof, comprising end of said bar means to embrace the respective side edge of the bottom and top to hold the top and bottom of the piece of luggage separated,

card holding means secured to said supporting bar means to hold a card extending inwardly of the bar,

a V-shaped wire with the legs secured to said supporting bar means to extend over the interior of the piece of luggage, and

a spring clip to hold a card secured to the apical region of said wire means.

2. The display bracket of claim 1 including a card rest carried by said supporting bar means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 683,321 9/1901 Neubauer et al. 217-61 795,311 7/1905 Shepley 21761 X 834,489 10/1906 Purdum 217-61 991,102 5/1911 Speice 217-61 X 1,198,511 9/1916 Applas 217-61 2,413,569 12/ 1946 Isakson 24835 1 3,180,668 4/ 1965 Brown 292276 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

FRANK DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.