US354893A - Show case - Google Patents

Description

(N'o Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

v SHOW ASE. v N0. 354,893. Patented D60. 28, 1886.-

2. t nv e h S w e e h. S 3 X 0 nr. .B l

(No Model.)

SHDW CASE.

Patented Dec. 28, 1886.

\\\\k\\-S\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Y n mins. Phonvmhomphen wmangm. D. c'

(No Model.) '3 sheetssheet 3.

J. E. FOX.

SHOW GASE- NO. 354,893. Patented Deo. 28, 1886.

. 'D {nn r1 .v 1 1r1 Mjun fl rp a J pzf E: @il E1-; E1 @it s Q 3 J 3% SX' @il @il 3:1 @1 1 @i U71-: H a

UNITEDk STATES @PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. FOX, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO DAVID C. LOEWENSTINE, OF SAME PLACE.

SHOW-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 354,893, dated December 28, 1886.

Application tiled August 3, 1885.`

To all whom may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES E. FOX, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin, in the State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ShowCases, of which the following specification is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying draw-ings, in which- Fignre 1 is a side view of the case closed, and Fig. 2 is a side view of the case with cover elevated. Fig. 3 is a side view of a portion of the case, showing the relative positions of the parts of the cover-hinge when the cover is [5` partially elevated. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged details of the form of peg used to supporthats, caps, and similar goods in the case. Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged detailsillustrating the con- .struction of the tilting mechanism of'thegoods- 20 supporting pegs. Fig. 8 is a vertical section, cutting from front to rear, of the case closed. Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the case opened and the displayframe elevated. Fig. 10 is a sectional View, looking from the front, z 5 of a portion of one side of the case, taken in a plane indicated by the line 1 1, Fig. 8. Fig. l1 is a horizontal section ofthe upper displayframe in a plane lindicated by the line 2 2, Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a side view of a portion 3o of the upper display-frame. Fig. 13 is a horizontal section of one side of the middle displayframe in a plane indicated by the line3 3, Fig. 14. Fig. 14 is a side view ofthe lower part of the middle display-frame. Fig. 15 is a horizontal section of one side of the lower display-frame in a plane indicated bythe line 4 4, Fig. 16. Fig. 16 is aside view ofthe lower part oi' the lower display-frame. Fig. 17 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the con- 4o struction of the mechanism for supporting the display-frames, the View being a vertical section of the upper corner of the rear end of the middle frame lying down, and through one of the supporting-rails of `the frame. Fig. 18 is an enlarged view of va section of the case,illus trating the relative positions and the arrangement of the tracks upon which the displayframes run. Fig. 19 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one of the display-frames with Serial No. 173.315. (No model.)

the goods-supporting pegs turned up, and 5c Fig. 20 is a similar view with the pegs turned down. Fig. 2l is a front View of a portion of one of the frames with the pegs turned up, as shown in Fig. 19.

This invention relates to show-cases for displaying articles of merchandise in stores, Ste., more especially hats, caps, fors, and similar goods, having a series of goods-supporting frames, in which the goods are so held that when the frames are folded down in compact 6o form within the case the goods will not fall out of the frames, but at the same time be easily accessible when the frames are turned upward,ashereinaftershown,and then specically deiin'ed by the claims.

In the drawings, A is the base of the case, Az A3 the sides, A4 the back, A5 the front, and As the top, of the same. The base, sides, and back are all secured to each other, while the front and top are in one piece, or formed solidly together', and adapted to lie loosely upon the front and top of the structure, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. The top and front A5 AG are firmly held at right angles to each other by suitable metal straps and braces attheir curved end, and connections will be formed with glass panels, through which the interior of the case may be observed. The sides and the back of the oase may also be formed with glass panels, if preferred.

Upon each end of the rear part of the top A6 a metal bracket, B', is secured, passing down outside of the sides A2 A3 of the case, and pivoted at a in a slot, a2, in one end of a bar, B'l. The other end of the bar B'l is piv- 85 oted upon ,the rear edge of the side, as A3, a short distance down from the top. .The bracket B is curved forward at B3, and when the cover is folded down, as shown inFg. 1, this curved portion rests behind and partially beneath an 9o anti-friction groovcd roller, b, on the upper part of the side of the case. Only one set of these brackets and bars is shown; but each side of the case will of course be supplied with its own set. -By this arrangement of the brackets and slotted bars, when the front and top of the case are raised up by the handle A7, the top Ai willslide back over the upper edge of handle A7 is more readily reached for again,

shutting the case. When the front and top are thus raised, the 4bars B2 are brought into an inclined position downward and backward, substantially as shown in Fig. 2. This position of the bars, brackets, and top of the case is such that the bars, under the weight of the front and top, canse the top to hug closely to the back of the case, and also act as braces to prevent the front and top from tipping forward, they being thereby held securely in their raised position. At the saine time a gentle pull forward and downward on the handle A" readily lowers the front and top again to their closed position. A variation of the inclination of the bars B2 varies the stability of the support of the front and top when thus raised. If the inclination of the bars B'z is lessenedthat is, if they are arranged in a position nearer horizontalmthe front and top areheld up with greater firmness. If the inclination is increasedthat is, if they are brought nearer to a vertical position-the support of the front and top is less firm. Thus I can adapt the bars BL to different weights of the front and top, and make theirsupport as firm, and as firm only, as desired. l

When first raised, as in Fig. 3, the tendency is for the rear edge of the top A to rest upon the upper rear corner of the back A4 until the angle of elevation is sufficient to overcome the friction, when the cover and front would slip back suddenly until stopped by the pivot a striking thebottom or inner end of the slot a2. To avoid this sudden slipping back, I form the curved portions B3 upon the brackets, and arrange the anti-friction grooved rollers b on the sides A2 A3, so that just as soon as the front and top A5 AG begin to rise the curved portions B3, running under the rollers b, begin to crowd the cover back as soon as it begins to rise, and

thereby prevent any jumping77 orjarr-ing of the movement. These friction-rollers b also serve to h`old the front A5 back against the front edges of the sides A2 A3, as otherwise the front and cover would be free to work forward as far as the slots a2 wouldpermit. The grooved rollers b, holding against the forward edges of the brackets B', serve to hold the front and top A5 A6 from any lateral swerving, so that there is no danger of the bracing, when used on the ends of the top and front, striking or rubbing the corners of the sides A2 A3; also, the forward swells of the portions B3 under the rollers b, when the front and top are closed down, serve to prevent a direct vertical rising move- 'ment of the top A6 ont of a perfectly-closed position. Thus the rollers b perform an important part in the operation of my improved hinge mechanism. This hinge thus acts as a binder to hold the cover in position after it drops down in closing. The hinge may be adjusted to drop the front and topdown any distance desired when raised.

Upon each of the inner surfaces of the sides Az A3, near their tops, are a number of parallel tracks, c c2 c3 c", the tracks o c2 being in line one above the other, the tracks c lying close to the sides A2 A3, and the tracks c3 at a point midway in a perpendicular line between the tracks c2 c, as shown in Fig. 18.

C' C2 C3 are three oblong open goodssupporting frames, each adapted to occupy, preferably, about onethird of the interior of the case, as shown in Figs. 8, 9, and l0, in Figs. 8 and 10 said frames being represented as lying in a horizontal position, one above another. In this position the frames are entirely within the case, and the front and top of the said case, when let down, then completely shut the frames in the case. It more or fewer than three frames are employed, each occupies its proper proportion ot' the space in the case.

d is a flat bar, pivoted by one end to the upper frame, C', and provided with a grooved roller, d2, adapted to run upon the track ci, while a similar bar, d3, is pivoted by one end at d* to the same frame, C', and provided with agrooved roller, d5, running upon the track c', as clearly shown in Fig. 12. The central frame, C2, is provided with an arm, c, similar to the arm d', and pivoted by one end to the frame C, and having a roller, e, running upon the track c3, while another arm, e3, connected to the arm e by a bar, e, is also provided with a roller, e5, running upon the saine track c3, 'as clearly shown in Fig. 14. The lower frame, C3, is provided with a fixed arm, g', having a roller, g2, running upon the track c, as clearly shown in Fig. 16.

Each end of each of the frames C C2 Cl will be provided with a set `of the rollers to run upon the tracks; but only one set is shown upon each frame in the drawings. i

Then the frames C C2 C3 are all folded down, as shown in Fig. 8, the central frame, C, rests upon the lower frame, C, and the upper frame, C', rests upon the central frame. Then when the front and top A5 A6 are raised up, as shown in Fig. 2, the upper frame, C', may be drawn out and lifted up, as in Fig. 9, (the rollers d di supporting the lower end,) and then run back against the back A. This position of the frame C brings the arm d into a backwardly and upwardly slanting position, so that a pin, h,'upon the frame C will rest upon a pin, h2, on the arm di, and thereby support the frame in an upright position, but free to be run forward upon the tracks c c" to dis-V play the goods, and run back to make room for the other frames. Then lthe central frame,

IOO

IOS

case, as show-n in the same figure.

upon the connecting-bars e* of the said frame G2, when the latter is elevated, to hold it upright, as shown in Figs. 19, 20, and 2l, while the catches 13 upon the lower frame, C3, are adapted to catch upon small stops k, attached to the front edges of the sides A2 A3 for that purpose, as shown ,in Fig. 9. The action of the hooks on the frame C3 is the same as that of the hooks z' ou the frame C2. By arranging the catch t' upon the central frame to catch upon the cross-bar .eN1 the frame is left free to be drawn forward to the front of the case to display the goods, or moved back against the frame C to make room for the lower frame to be elevated. By this means, when the frames C2 C3 are elevated, the catches 'i t will hold them elevated. Vhen all the frames are thus raised and sustained in a vertical position,they stand one in front of another, and substantially in the same plane, as shown in Fig. 9.- They also stand partly above the sides of the By the construction herein represented and described about two-thirds of the height of the framesare thus brought above the sides of the case when they are raised to' a vertical position. Thus they are brought up to a convenient height for examination ot' the goods held by the frames, and for easily reaching the same, although the case itself may be comparatively low. At the same time the front A5 of the case is held above and out of the way of the frames, when both the case-front and the frames are raised; The top A6 of the case then stands in avertical position behind the frames.

m m are small levers pivoted by their ceuters to the lower sides or bottoms of the frames U2 C3 when'elevated, and adapted,wheu pulled by one end, to throw the lower ends ot' the catches z' outward and disconnect the upper ends of the catches from the arms e4 and stops k when the frames C'z or C3 are to be lowered down.

When used for the display of ribbons and similar goods in rolls or compact form, the

frames G C2 C3 will be merely provided with rods or frames for supporting the bolts of ribbons, 85o., and when used for some other kinds of goods mere shelves or hooks will be sufficient; but when used for the display of hats and caps and some kinds of furs,and boots and shoes, but more especially hats and caps, l

' arrange in each of the frames C C2 C3 a series of parallel rods, D, pivoted by their ends in the ends of the frames C C2 G3, so that they can be revolved or oscillated, and have pegs u u thereon. In the center of each frame CC2 C3 are posts 0*, through which the rods D run, and each pair of the posts in each frame are secured together' at'their tops by metal frames E" (See Figs. 19,20, and 21.) In each ofthe posts 0*, opposite the points where the rods D pass through them, are slots, (see Figs. 6 and 7,) out through which small arms n', attached to the rods D, run, and each set of the arms n of each perpendicular row of rodsD are connected together at their inner ends by rods n2, as shown, so that all the rods of each perpendicular row may be oscillated at once by moving its connecting-rod n2 up or down. of the posts C* of each frame are connected together at intervals by cross-pieces G, and held loosely upon these cross-pieces by straps or other bearings are upright rods H, connected to the rods n by a strap, n3, playing in Vmortises or holes in the said rods, so as to allow a lateral movement of the rods on the strap, so that by moving the rod H up or down each of the two perpendicular rows of the rods D may be turned over toward each other, as shown in Fig. 20.

Each of the frames E' is formed into a handle, E2, by which each of the frames C C2 C3 may be raised and lowered, and in each of these handles is pivoted a small lever, F', connected at its inner end by a small rod, F2, to one of the rods H, so that by raising and lowering the levers Fl the rods H may also be raised and lowered, and the pegs u u on the rods D turned into a vertical or a horizontal position. Above the levers F in each of the handles E2 is pivoted another lever, F3, tothe inner end of which acord or wire, t, is attached e and runs down to two bell-cranks, i2 t3, (shown in dotted lines inlFig. 21,) and from thence in opposite directions to the small levers m,whioh operate the catches. By pulling down upon the levers Fa it will be seen the catches will be disconnected and leave the frames G2 C3 IOO IIO

secured thereto by rivets, screws, or similar means, or, as shown in the drawings, by punching a portion of the metal into the wood. I prefer the latter method, as being cheaper, more simple, and fully as secure as anygother means. In the upper ends of the metal plates a portion is cut out on three sides, and the cutout portion bent forward, forming a lip,u, which catches behind the sweat-lining of the hat when the frames are lowered, to prevent the hats slipping from the pegs when the frames are accidentally jarred. Spring-catches w will-be attached to the frames C C3 to catch the levers F when they are thrown down,'as shown in Fig. 19, to hold the levers downward and prevent the accidental displacement or swinging down of the supporting pegs u when the frames G C2 C3 are lowered. These spring-catches will be so the levers when the pegs are elevated. Each ofthe levers F has a lug, c', upon its upper side, the part of the lug toward the handle E2 being on a curve of which the pivot of the lever is the center, and the remainder of the lug hollowed out, as shown. Each of the levers F3 has a downwardly-projectinglug, c", which nearly touches the lug e when the levers F are thrown up for lowering the pegs a', as shown in Fig. 20. The levers F are thus always free to be moved up and down; but when the levers F are raised up, as in Fig. 2 0, to throw the pegs u downward,l the lugs c will come beneath and in front of the lugs c" and prevent the levers F3 from being operated. Vhen the pegs a are all turned up and secured in that position by locking the levers F/ with the catches x, as shown in Fig. 19, the lugs v2 are in position to move down in front ot' t-he lugs lv', thus allowing the levers F3 to be operated for unlocking the frames C2 G3, so that they can be lowered into a horizontal position. By this means the frames C2 or C3 cannot be turned down until the pegs u are raised upward to secure the hats, te. were turned down when the pegs are turned horizontally, the hats would all fall out; but to prevent any such mishap I provide the locking'lugs c c.

With the construction above described there are two parallel sets of oppositely-placed rods, D D, in each frame, the pegs 'u' u on one set turning inward toward those on the other set of rods simultaneously. Each articlesuch as a hat-rests over two-of the opposite pegs on their respective rods when the frame is raised to a vertical ,position for display, and hangs -by the upper peg of the two when the frame is lowered to a horizontal position, the pegs being then horizontal. So, when the frame is raised to a vertical position, the pegs are also in a vertical position, as shown in Fig'. 19, thereby preventing the hats being shaken or thrown `from the rods on which they rest, especially when the frames are moved backward or forward, both pegs being then necessary to keep the hat in place. Then, when it is desired to take one or more hats from the rods for examination or sale, the rods are turned by the means above described, so as to bring the pegs into a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 20. In that position of t-he pegs the hats may be taken from the rods as readily as from a shelf, and as readily replaced thereon.

Having 'described my invention and set forth its merit-s, what I claim is!- 1. A show-ease having goods-supporting frames C' C? C3 contained therein, and provided with a front, A5, and top A, formed in fixed relation to each other, the top being hinged at the rear of the case to the same, the said front and top being adapted to be raised and held with the top in a vertical position and the front in a horizontal position at some distance above the case, whereby the said frames may be raised to and held in a verti- If the frames lto each other, and provided with brackets B',

adapting the top when raised to slide back and drop down behind the back A, substantially as described.

3. A show-case having a bottom, back, and sides in fixed relation' to each other, and provided with slotted pivoted bars B, and antifriction grooved rollers b, in combination with the front and top in fixed relation to each other, and provided with brackets B', having curved portions B3, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

4. The combination, in a showcase, of a case bottom, sides, and back, A A2 A A, tracks c cIl c3 c, and `goods supporting frames C C2 C3, provided with rollers adapted to run upon the said tracks, arranged and operating substantially as herein shown and described.

5. In ashow-case, a series of goods-su pporting frames or holders contained within the case in a horizontal position one above another,

` and adapted to be raised to and independently sustained in avertical position one in front of another andsubstantially on the same plane without removal from the case, pose herein specified.

6. In a show-case, a series of goodssnpporting frames or holders contained within the case in a horizontal position' one above another, and adapted to be raised to and sustained in a vertical position one in front of another on substantially the same plane, each frame being partially above the sides of the case, in combination with a caso having a connected front and top adapted to be raised and held away from the said frames, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

for the purt ICO 7. In a show-case, a goods-supporting frame adapted to be placed and held in both a horizontal and a vertical position and provided with two sets of oppositely-located rods, D D, the respective sets of rods having pegs u u', adapted to be turned inward simultaneously toward each other and upward parallel with eachother, substantially as herein specified, whereby each article is adapted to be held by two opposite pegs on opposite rods of the frame,the pegs being adapted to be thus turned inward toward each other to permit the full removal of the article, substantially as herein set forth.

8. The combination, in a show-case, of a frame having pivoted rods D and pegs u', the

connecting-arms n, rods n. handle E, lever.

a. rd, and held in' platee thereon by a, por- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set tion of the metal cut in and bent from the my hand in the presence of two subscribing plate into the rod, and having at the other' Witnesses.

end a. lip, u2, cut in and bent outward from JAMES E. FOX. 5 the plate, in combination with the arms n and Witnesses:

n", straps n3, and rod H, substantially as ALFRED D. WILLISTON,

herein specified. FRED J. SQUIBB.

Images