US3879871A

US3879871A - Mobile storage and displaying arrangement for pictorial art

Info

Publication number: US3879871A
Application number: US350037A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph E Mcwilliams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-04-11
Filing date: 1973-04-11
Publication date: 1975-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 1992-04-29

Abstract

A mobile storing and displaying arrangement for pictorial art comprising an elongate enclosed vehicle body that may be of the semi-trailer type having a partition mounted therein adjacent to but spaced from the rear end of same to form a viewing room that is equipped for air conditioned comfort of the persons entering the rear of the vehicle to view the pictorial art stored in the vehicle forwardly of the partition. The art is removably applied to discrete display and storage panels located forwardly of the partition that extend transversely of the vehicle and move in a continuous circuit longitudinally of the vehicle between upper and lower runs for display through a window formed in the partition. The movement is intermittent to bring a panel into viewing relation with the partition window, stop movement for a predetermined time interval, and then replace the panel with another having another selection of pictorial art applied thereto. In such a manner the entire collection may be viewed without removing any from storage or the viewers having to leave the vehicle viewing room.

Description

[ Apr. 29, 1975 Primary E.\aminerRobert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-A. Heinz Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mann, Brown, McWilliams & Bradway [57] ABSTRACT A mobile storing and displaying arrangement for pictorial art comprising an elongate enclosed vehicle body that may be of the semi-trailer type having a partition mounted therein adjacent to but spaced from the rear end of same to form a viewing room that is equipped for air conditioned comfort of the persons entering the rear of the vehicle to view the pictorial art stored in the vehicle forwardly of the partition. The art is removably applied to discrete display and storage panels located forwardly of the partition that extend transversely of the vehicle and move in a con- MOBILE STORAGE AND DISPLAYING ARRANGEMENT FOR PICTORIAL ART Inventor: Joseph E. McWilliams, 1345 Canterbury Ln., Glenview, 111. 60025 22] Filed: Apr. 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 350,037

Field of Search........., 40/32, 36, 43, 78.07, 40/78.09, 96.99, 152.1, 140, 142, 106.1; 21/74 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS United States Patent McWilliams without removing any from storage or the viewers having to leave the vehicle viewing room.

1 Claim, 16 Drawing Figures 3 tinuous circuit longitudinally of the vehicle between upper and lower runs for display through a window formed in the partition. The movement is intermittent to bring a panel into viewing relation with the parti- 40/35 F1011 window, stop movement for a predetermined time (O/152.1 interval, and then replace the panel with another hav- 40/78 09 ing another selection of pictorial art applied thereto. In such a manner the entire collection mav be viewed titi it i tl t Str0mer...... Roth Martin Quillin ct a1... Bodde........i... Teich.......... Riley et a1. Bohanon FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7- 3 9 m 5 6-l6 930 7 -3-6 37-3007 7 44 Q 0694 PATENTEUAPRZQIHYS minimum o w QM m am om q N UE q m mm om m #0 qm Om PATENTEB 2 3,879,871. sum 3 pf Y .1 j F"IG.7A

PATENTEDAPR29i9Y5 SHEET 0% 7 QUE PATENTEDAPRZQIBYB 3,879,871

' sumso y FIGJZ MOBILE STORAGE AND DISPLAYING ARRANGEMENT FOR PICTORIAL ART This invention relates to a mobile storage and display arrangement for pictorial art, and more particularly, to a vehicle arranged to provide a viewing sitting room for customers and an art storage arrangement devised for convenient customer inspection and selection, from the viewing room, of the pictures and the like offered for sale, without having to remove the individual pieces of art from storage.

In recent years the domestic demand for good quality oil paintings and the like pictorial art, particularly from Europe, has moved away from the cities, but tradition ally, one has had to go to a metropolitain center of some size to find a reasonable collection of paintings to choose from. However, the Applicant is aware of the fact that a good market exists in many rural areas for things of this type, if there were a convenient way to bring to this potential market a good selection of pictorial art that could be conveniently moved from place to place and yet displayed to good advantage for customer viewing.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a mobile storage and displaying arrangement for paintings and the like that incorporates in the same vehicle the pictorial works offered for sale, the viewing room from which customers can view the art without removing the latter from storage, and a conveyor system in which the art is stored that is arranged to move the art selections to and from a viewing window for displaying the art to customers.

Another principal object of the invention is to provide a mobile painting, storage and displaying arrangement in the form of a highway vehicle equipped to provide a comfortable art viewing room from which customers may view the art selections available through a viewing window through which the art selections as stored are presented for customer selection.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a vehicle carried conveyor system equipped with art supporting panels arranged for convenient application to and removal from of paintings and the like relative to the panels, as well as for convenient display of the art to customers, to provide a pictorial art merchandising tool that makes it feasible to bring well rounded selections to rural and other outlying areas, and to provide a mobile storage and displaying arrangement for paintings and the like that is inexpensive of manufacture, convenient to use, and long lived and efficient in operation.

In accordance with this invention, a highway vehicle such as one of the familiar semi-trailer type, is equipped to store and display pictorial works. The vehicle body at its rear end is formed to provide a comfortable viewing room, access to which is had through the rear end of the vehicle, with the viewing room being defined in part by a vehicle body transverse partition that' is formed to define a viewing window. The art is removably applied to panels that are mounted to move in an endless circuit rearwardly and forwardly of the vehicle, along upper and lower circuit runs, for presentation of an art bearing panel to the viewing window, and after adequate time delay has been had for viewing purposes, removal thereof from and presentation of a following panel to the viewing window, effected by moving the panel sequentially and consecutively about the circuit.

The vehicle is arranged for air conditioned comfort of the customers in the viewing room and ambient air control of the space in which the art is stored for full protection of same. Several specific conveyor arrangements for movably storing the art are disclosed.

Other objects, uses, and advantages will be obvious or become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the application drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the vehicle embodying this invention, with the sides of the vehicle being broken away to illustrate the general arrangements of the interior of the vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1, partially shown in section;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the rear of the vehicle, with the vehicle rear wall and end doors omitted;

FIG. 4 is a fragmental view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 2, with parts being broken away, illustrating the general arrangement of the art storing panels and the manner of supporting same in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmental sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, taken substantially along line 66 of FIG. 5, with parts broken away;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of one of the elevator devices employed in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, with parts broken away, FIG. 2A being approximately along line 7'7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7A is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 7 together with associated parts of the vehicle being shown in section;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but illustrating a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but illustrating the form of the invention shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmental view on an enlarged scale of the panel supporting conveyor arrangement shown in FIG. 8, with the end of the conveyor shown at the right hand end of FIG. 8 being illustrated;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 11 taken from the right hand side of FIG. 11;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, but showing the embodiment of FIGS. 8-40;

FIG. 13 is a fragmental view illustrating a specific form of pictorial art mounting panel and clamping devices therefor, in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 14 is a fragmental sectional view along line 14-l4 of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmental elevational view of one of the vertical sides of the painting frame with the frame mounting strip shown in section.

However, it is to be understood that the specific drawing illustrations provided are supplied primarily to comply with the requirements of the Patent Laws, and that the invention may have other embodiments that will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Reference numer 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 generally indicates one embodiment of the mobile storage and display arrangement of this invention comprising vehicle 12 which for purposes of illustration is shown as being of the familiar semi-trailer type' defining vehicle body 14 including a suitable top or ceiling 16,

side walls

18 and 20, forward wall 22, floor 24, and rear wall 26 provided with a suitable access opening 28 closed by suitable doors 30. The vehicle is equipped with a suitable folding stairway 31 of a suitable type that may be folded up and stored until needed, and then erected to provide access to doors 30.

The vehicle body defines interior space 32 which is subdivided by a suitable transversely extending partition 34 into a storage room or space 36 and a viewing room or space 38, which in accordance with this invention is suitably equipped with chairs 40, side seats 42, and a table 44, or the like, for comfortable accommodation of customers present in the room 38 to view the art selections available in the vehicle 12.

In accordance with this invention, the vehicle 12 serves as a mobile storage and display arrangement for oil paintings and the like, generally indicated by reference numeral 46, which have been acquired to markets abroad and removably applied to storage panels 48 that are mounted to move about an endless circuit 50, within the storage space or room 36, which circuit 50 defines an upper run 52 and a lower run 54. The partition 34 is formed with a window opening 56 that is vertically and horizontally aligned with the panels 48 as they move along the circuit run 52 so that the panel 48 that is at the right hand end of the circuit room 52 is visible through the window opening 56 (see FIG. 3).

The circuit 50 is in the form of a panel conveyor apparatus or arrangement 58 which effects movement of the panels 48 in the direction of the partition 34, along circuit run 52, in an intermittent manner, with the end panel 48 being visible through the window opening 56 to display its pictorial art items 46 a predetermined time delay, after which such end panel 48 is lowered to alignment with the circuit run 54 to expose the next succeeding panel 48 and the pictorial art it carries for viewing from the room or space 38. The lowered panel 48, in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, remains visible through another window opening 60 that is formed in partition 34 below the window opening 56. After the predetermined time delay has passed, the panel 48 that is visible through the lower window 60 is moved forwardly of the vehicle 12 to move the entire set of panels 48 in the lower circuit run 54 for wardly of the vehicle to position the end panel 48 at the front end of the vehicle for elevation into alignment with the upper circuit run 52, whereupon such newly elevated panel is pushed rearwardly of the vehicle to move the panel that is visible through the window opening 56 rearwardly for prepositioning to be lowered for alignment with the window opening 60.

The conveyor apparatus 58 is preferably operated from convenient off-on controls 62 (see FIG. 2) located in the viewing room 38, which controls may be of the push button type, so that the proprietor, who would be sitting or standing near the control 62, may stop or start the conveyor 58, depending upon the customers desires.

The pictorial items 46 are suitably removably secured to the panels 48 so that they can be readily removed through one of the

window openings

56 or 60 as the customers make their selections. Similarly, replacement pictorial items are reapplied to the panels 46 through one of the window openings 56 and 60' when the proprietor wishes to replenish his supply of pictorial items 46.

In the embodiment 10A of FIGS. 8-10, the vehicle 12A is the same as vehicle 12 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the panels 46 being incorporated in the circuit 50A comprising a conveyor arrangement 58A that includes a pair of drive chains on either side of the vehicle trained over suitable sprockets 72 and powered by a suitable drive mechanism 74 to move about the circuit 50A. As indicated in FIG. 8, the arrangement of conveyor 58A is such that panels 46 are inverted as they pass between the upper and lower circuit runs so only the single upper viewing window opening 56A is formed in the partition 34A, although the window opening 56 is brought down sufficiently to the floor level of the vehicle so that the proprietor can easily step through same to remove the pieces of art work the customer desires from a particular panel 46 (this also being necessary by reason of the space required for the partitions 46 to swing from the upper to the lower run of the circuit 50A).

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a convenient arrangement for both storing and viewing pictorial items such as good paintings and the like that permits a collection of these items to be transported to rural and other outlying areas where the proprietor can park the vehicle at any convenient place and invite potential customers to view his selections. The vehicle is equipped with suitable air conditioning, humidifying, and heating equipment, and the like, to insure customer comfort in room 38 as well as the maintenance of adequate ambient air standards in the storage room 36 for best preservation of the pictorial items there stored. The customers can view the selections from storage, and where the customer makes a selection, it can be readily removed from one of its supporting panels for sale to the customer.

Replenishment of the art items 46 is easy as it can be done through the viewing windows of the viewing room, where the proprietor has transported his vehicle to some suitable central storage area for pictorial art items to be sold.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION The vehicle 12 in practice may be of any suitable type, although the conventional semi-trailer type highway vehicle is well adapted to serve the purposes of the invention. The interior of the vehicle 12 in the area of viewing room 38 needs to be tastefully decorated for customer pleasure and comfort, and the conventional end opening is closed by a suitable rear wall 26 provided with suitable doors 30 which close access opening 28 that is approached by employing a suitable folding stairway 31. Viewing room may be equipped with one or more spot lights 33 to facilitate viewing.

In the form shown, the doors 30 are of the twin swinging door type which may be suitably closed and latched for purposes of closing off the rear end of the vehicle 12 for purposes of moving it from place to place. Similarly, it is preferable to have doors 30 arranged to be closed in locales where it is important to have the viewing room 38 air conditioned or heated, depending on the time of year.

Stairway 31 in the form shown comprises a platform section 71 having hinged thereto, by suitable hinges 73, a stairway section 75 having railing 77 removably applied thereto. Sections 71 are preferably slidably mounted in a suitable cavity or chamber in the vehicle body floor, or underframe for storage therein by removing railing 77 and swinging section to a horizontal position and then pushing same into its storage cavity; stairway 31 is pulled out for use, section 75 being lowered to the ground, and removable railing 77 applied thereto. Railing 77 may be stored inside the vehicle body when same is being transported.

The vehicle 12 being of the semi-trailer type, includes suitable rear wheels 82 and kingpin 84 adapted to cooperate with the familiar fifth wheel of the truck tractor that transports the vehicle 12. The vehicle 12 also includes conventional retractable supports 86 for supporting the vehicle when disconnected from the truck tractor. The heating and cooling equipment may be located where indicated at 88, reference numeral 89 indicating a supply tank for the heating equipment employed. At the forward end of the vehicle, body 12 is provided with access door 91.

The conveyor apparatus 58 comprises upper opposed channels 90 and lower opposed channels 92 that support the panels 48 on either side of the vehicle and guide them for movement along the circuit runs 52 and 54. In the form shown, the

channels

90 and 92 are affixed to upright frame members 94 that are of channel configuration and suitably affixed to the respective

vehicle side walls

18 and 20.

The individual panels 48, which are of general quadrilateral configuration, extend transversely of the vehicle and between the opposed pairs of

channel members

90 and 92 in the respective runs of the circuit. Each panel 48, which may be formed from plywood or some suitable composition material, having the art work bearing surface 96 of same (that faces the viewing room 38) suitably painted or otherwise made pleasing to sight and neutral in color. The panels define top and

bottom edges

98 and 100 and side edges 102.

The sides 102 of each panel 48 have affixed thereto a bracket structure 104 comprising a U-shaped base element 106 that is fixed thereto by suitable rivets 108. The base element 106 defines spaced flanges 110 between which the panel is received and a web 112 that has affixed thereto, as by welding, a bumper member 113 in the form of a bracket arm 115 journaling a pair of spaced rollers 116, and having its

ends

118 and 120 disposed at right angles thereto.

As indicated in FIGS. 4 6, the panels of the upper circuit run 52 are proportioned so that the rollers 116 carried thereby ride in the respective channel members 90, which each form a trackway 122 for the respective rollers 116. Channel members 92 are similarly arranged to define corresponding trackways 124 (see FIG. 6).

The panels 48 are all identical and each have the pictorial art items 46 releasably secured thereto in a manner consistent with this invention, as by having conventional brackets removably secured to the picture frames involved that are in turn secured to the respective panel by screws or the like.

The panels 48 received in the respective circuit runs have their rollers 116 applied to the

respective trackways

122 and 124, with the elements 114 of bracket structures 104 in end to end relation. The ends 118 and 120 of the elements 114 serve as bumpers for the respective elements 114.

The conveyor 58 at the forward end of the vehicle is equipped with an elevator apparatus for shifting individual panels 48 from the lower run 54 of the circuit 50 to the upper run 52, while at the rear end of the conveyor, adjacent the partition 34, the conveyor 58 is equipped with a similar elevator apparatus 132 for lowering the panel 48 that appears at the window opening 56, and that is at the end of circuit run 52, down to the level of circuit run 54.

The

elevators

130 and 132 are similar, and each comprises a pair of

elevator devices

134 and 136 that are similar in construction and are diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 7A illustrating the device 134 (it is to be understood that the description of the device 134 applies also to device 136).

The device 134 comprises a trolley 140 comprising a pair of spaced apart plates 142 and 144 (see FIG. 7A) suitably affixed together in spaced apart relation to receive a guide tube 146 that is suitably affixed between the floor and ceiling of the vehicle, and also journaling suitable rollers 148 that ride on the guide post 146. As indicated in FIG. 7A, the guide post 146 is of quadrilateral cross-sectional configuration and defines side surfaces 150 and 152 on which the respective rollers 148 ride.

The trolley 140 has fixed to its side plate 142 channel member 154 which is of the same transverse crosssectional configuration as

channel members

90 and 92, so that when the trolley 140 is positioned in alignment with

channel members

90 and 92 on the side of the vehicle served by the device 134, the rollers 114 of the respective panels 48 will ride into and out of the member 154 in the same manner that they ride in the

respective trackways

122 and 124. As indicated in FIGS. 7 and 7A, the

members

90, 92 and 154 have their

respective ends

156 and 158 proportioned so that when the member 154 is aligned with either of the

channel members

90 or 92, they will be in substantial abutting arrangement for smooth transfer therebetween of the respective panels 48.

The trolley 140 is moved vertically by power device 160 which comprises an elongated hydraulic cylinder 162 having piston 164 reciprocably mounted therein and having a cable 166 secured thereto, at its end 168, for extending outwardly of the hydraulic cylinder and over pulley 170 for application to one arm 172 of U- shaped mounting bracket 174 that is fixed to the trolley 140. Cable 166 has its end 178 suitably secured to the other side of piston 164 for training over pulley 180 and securement at its end 182 to the other arm 184 of bracket 174.

The

pulleys

170 and 180 are suitably journaled on the respective mounting

arms

186 and 188 that are suitably affixed to the guide post 146 above and below the path of movement of the trolley 140.

The power device 162 per se is of a commerically available type, and by actuating the piston 164 to move longitudinally of the hydraulic cylinder 162, the trolley 140 is moved vertically, either upwardly or downwardly, under the control of the operator.

In accordance with this invention, the power devices 160 of the

respective elevators

134 and 136 are incorporated in suitable hydraulic circuiting so that the trolleys 140 of the

devices

134 and 136 at both ends of the conveyor 58 simultaneously and in synchronism move either upwardly or downwardly. Thus, the operation of the apparatus is such that when one of the trolleys 140 is in alignment with the trackway 122 it services, the rest of the trolleys 140 are similarly aligned with the trackways they service. Similar remarks apply to the trackways 124 of the channel members 92.

The trolleys 140 also each have affixed thereto in alignment with the respective channel members 154 a hydraulic power device 190 comprising a hydraulic cylinder 192 having a piston reciprocably mounted therein (not shown) operably connected to piston rod 194 having pusher plate 196 affixed thereto for cooperation with the

respective bumpers

118 and 120 of the respective panel bracket structures 104. The

elevator devices

134 and 136 at the forward end of the conveyor 58 cooperate with the bumpers 120, while the

elevator devices

134 and 136 at the rearward end of the conveyor cooperate with the bumpers 118.

The function of the power device 190 is to push a panel 48, that is suspended between the channel members 154 of a pair of cooperating elevator devices 134 and 136 (of, for instance elevator 132), away from the trolleys 140 carrying same, when the latter are aligned with one of the

trackways

122 or 124, and out of the channel members 154 thereto onto the respective trackways, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

The guide post 46 is equipped with a pair of

opposed limit switches

200 and 202 which are respectively equipped with spring biased

plungers

204 and 206 that are engaged by the respective stop plates 208 and 210 of the trolley 140 for the purposes of defining the upper and lower limits of movement of the trolley 140. The limit switches 200 and 202 are preferably suitably mounted on the guide posts for adjustment longitudinally thereof (not shown) so that they operate to stop vertical movement of the trolley 140 when same is accurately aligned with either a trackway 122 or a trackway 124.

The

power devices

160 and 190 are suitably incorporated in suitable hydraulic circuiting so that once the conveyor is turned on, they function automatically under the off-on control of the operator having access to push button control 62. For this purpose the vehicle 12 is equipped with a suitable hydraulic power unit 214, provided with a suitable source of hydraulic pressure liquid, motor 216, and pump 218 for supplying hydraulic pressure liquid to the

respective power devices

160 and 190 under the control of suitable four way control valves for double acting hydraulic mechanisms of the type represented by

hydraulic cylinders

162 and 192. Such control valves are incorporated in suitable hydraulic circuiting arranged to operate automatically once the hydraulic power unit is turned on, motor 216 being run by a bank of batteries indicated at 220 electrically connected with suitable battery recharger 222 that in turn may be connected to an outside source of power when necessary or desirable to recharge the operating batteries.

The guide posts 146 also each mount a pair of

panel stop devices

228 and 230 for the purpose of precluding movement of the end panels 48 out of the

trackways

122 and 124 when the trolleys 140 are not blocking the ends thereof.

The

devices

228 and 230 each comprise a suitable housing 232 mounting latch bar 234 that is outwardly spring biased by suitable compression spring 236 and that carries a stop pin 238 operating in a slot 240 formed in the housing 232 to limit the projection of the latch bar 234 from the housing to about the extent indicated in FIG. 7 when the trolley is not adjacent same.

The latch bars 234 for each pair of

stop devices

228 and 230 of the

respective elevator devices

134 and 136, are disposed in vertical alignment, and in vertical alignment with, the ends 158 of the respective channel members 154 for engagement therewith when the respective channel members 154 are aligned with the channel members or 92. When the trolleys are moved to position their channel members 154 in alignment with, for instance, the channel members 90, the latch bar 234 of devices 228 are moved (by the respective members 154) out of the way for transmittal between the

channel members

154 and 90, of the panel 48 that is carried by the trolleys 140 (in this particular case, at the forward or left hand end of the conveyor 58).

However, as indicated in FIG. 7, when the trolleys 140 move away from channel member 90, the latch bars 234 fully extend under the action of their springs 236, into the path of movement of the

bumpers

118 and 120, to hold the panels 48 against undesirable discharge from the open ends of the trackways 122. Similar remarks apply to the cooperation with channel members 92.

When the trolleys 140 are positioned in the dashed line position of FIG. 7, a similar action is provided with regard to channel members 92, their trackways 124, and stop devices 230.

Assuming that the

trackways

122 and 124 have been supplied with an adequate number of panels 48 so that the panels 148 have their bumper members 113 in engagement for the lengths of

channel members

90 and 92 along both runs of the circuit 50 (and thus there should be enough panels 48 and their abutting bumper members 113 on both

trackways

122 and 124 so that the

trackways

122 and 124, which are of equal length, are completely filled by the panels 48 and their associated bumper members 113), and a single panel member 48 is applied to the

elevator devices

134 and 136 at the forward end of conveyor 58, when the conveyor 58 is turned on, the operation is as follows:

The hydraulic circuiting involved and controls therefor operate to simultaneously and synchronously position the trolleys 140 in alignment with the respective ends of the channel members 90 for application thereto of the panel 48 that is carried by the

elevator devices

134 and 136 at the forward end 58 of the conveyor. Of course, the channel member 154 at the other end of the conveyor (the end adjacent viewing room 38) are empty for receiving the panel 48 that is being viewed through window opening 56. After a suitable time delay for viewing the panel 48 that is being observed through the window opening 56, power devices operate to move the panel 48 carried by the trolleys 140 at the left hand end of the conveyor 58 onto the ends 156 of channel members 90, thus moving the pusher plates 196 from the dashed line position of FIG. 7 to the full line position thereof, and moving ahead of the panel 48 being pushed, the panels 48 that are ahead of same along the trackways 122. This will result in the panel 48 that is being viewed through window opening 56 being applied to the channel members 154 at the right hand end of conveyor 58.

When piston rods 194 are retracted to the dashed line position of the upper portion of FIG. 7, trolleys 140 are simultaneously and synchronously lowered to the dashed line position of FIG. 7, with the latch bars 234 of the upper latch devices 228 moving outwardly and downwardly to block escape of the end panels 48 from' the ends 156 of the channel members 90. As the trolleys 140 move to the lower position shown in FIG. 7,

the lower latch bars 234 are retracted by the trolley channel members 154 and the lower limit switches 202 stop downward movement of the trolleys when they are suitably aligned with the trackways 124.

The trolleys 140 at the right hand end of the conveyor 58 are thus carrying the panel 48 to be applied to the trackways 124, and power devices 190 of the

elevator devices

134 and 136 at the right hand end of the conveyor 58 operate to push such panel and in particular, its bumper members 113, into the trackways 124, thereby pushing the panel 48 that is at the other end of the trackways 124 into the waiting channel members 154 at that end of the conveyor.

The power devices 160 then function to return the trolleys 140 simultaneously and synchronously to the upper position for repetition of operation of the power devices 190 at the left hand end of the conveyor to the trackways 122.

The operation of the conveyor 58 automatically repeats itself as long as desired, with the operator operating off-on control 62 to stop operation of the conveyor when a customer wishes to view a particular item or items applied to a particular panel 48 then visible at either

window opening

56 or 60.

Should a customer wish one or more of the pictorial items 46, the proprietor can reach through the

window openings

56 and 60 to remove them for sale to the customer. The time delays between intermittent movement of the panels may be of a duration suitable for art viewing purposes, and interposed in the operation of the circuit as desired. The time delay involved in moving the trolleys between

trackways

122 and 124 may be adequate for most purposes.

Referring now to the embodiment 10A of FIGS. 8 10, the channel members 90A are in closely spaced relation to the channel members 92A at the respective sides of the vehicle, the

respective channel members

90A, 92A being suitably affixed to vertical support members 94A suitably mounted within the vehicle 12A (the vehicle 12A is the same in basic construction insofar as the vehicle is concerned as vehicle 12).

The sprockets 72 are suitably keyed to the respective stub shafts 250 that are journaled in suitable bearings mounted on the side walls of the vehicle. The bearings 252 at the rearward end of conveyor 58 are preferably of the take up type for tensioning chains 70, while the bearings 254 at the forward end of conveyor 58A are of the conventional non-take up type.

The panels 48A may be formed of the same material as panels 48, and at the juncture of their side edges 102A with an end edge 100, the panels have applied to either side of same a bracket structure 104A comprising a U-shaped member 260 defining flanges 262 that receive the panel and that are affixed thereto by suitable rivets 264, and a web 266 which has affixed thereto bracket arm 268 having its respective ends 270 and 272 formed to receive the pins 274 of drive chain 70.

The drive chains 70 each comprise pairs of

links

275 and 277 articulated together by pins 274 and pins 276. Pins 274 are in pairs lengthwise of the drive chain 70 and are longer than the pins 276 for extending through the respective ends of the bracket arms 268, as indicated in FIGS. 10 and l l. The bracket arms 268 of panels 48A are applied to the drive chain 70 in spaced relation, and in such a manner that there is a pin 274 applied to either end of the bracket arm 268 and a pin 276 is disposed in between such pins 274. The ends 270 of the respective bracket arms 268 are formed with rounded openings to receive one of the such pins 274, while the other such pin 274 for the bracket member 268 is received in a slotted opening 279 formed in the bracket member end 272 to provide for the lost motion necessary as the panels 248 are swung from the upper run to the lower run of the conveyor in the manner indicated in FIG. 10.

As indicated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the drive chain pins 274 and 276 each journal a roller 280, which rollers 280 ride in the

respective trackways

122A and 124A defined by the respective channel members A and 92A.

At the forward end of the conveyor 58A, one of the stub shafts 250 has keyed thereto suitable pulley 282 that is driven by pulley belt 284 from pulley 286 driven by suitable drive gear motor 288 that may be powered by the set of batteries indicated at 290 arranged for recharging by suitable recharger 292 and may be suitably connected to an outside source of power for recharging purposes at the appropriate time.

The embodiment of FIGS. 8 10 is of a simplified nature, but does not have the storage capacity as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 7 due to the fact that the panels 46A are swung substantially about the axes of the respective sprockets 72 in being moved between the upper and lower runs of the conveyor. The panels 46A stand upright when moving along the upper run of the conveyor and are suspended in inverted vertical position when moving along the lower run of the conveyor.

The operation of the conveyor 58A may be controlled in a manner similar to that for the conveyor 58, to provide intermittent movement of conveyor 58A (with a suitable time lapse between periods of movement) to swing a leading panel 48 that is in viewing position out of the way of the next succeeding panel 48, with the operator (who may be the proprietor) using the control 62A located in the viewing room or space 38A for off-on control purposes. When the conveyor 58A is operating, the panels 46A move to the right along the upper run 52A of the conveyor until they reach the right hand end sprockets 72, whereupon they swing downwardly and move into the lower run of the conveyor for return to the left hand end of the conveyor, whereupon they are returned to the upper run of the conveyor in a similar manner. The swinging of the end panel 46A at the right hand end of the upper run downwardly exposes the next panel 46A for viewing from viewing room or space 38A, with the arrangement being such that when the panel 46A that is being lowered to the lower run of the conveyor is substantially horizontally disposed, the panel 46A next following is fully exposed through window opening 56A. The operator may stop the conveyor at any position where the customer wishes to spend additional time in studying a particular item or items applied to a particular panel 48A visible through the window opening 56A.

Vehicle 12A is equipped with suitable spot lights 33, and its viewing room 38A is equipped in a manner similar to room 38. Similar parts of

vehicles

12 and 12A are indicated by similar reference numerals.

It is preferred that both conveyors by arranged and controled so that they can be operated to move in either direction. The

conveyors

58 and 58A are thus reversably movable for convenience of operation and location of specific pieces of art work.

It will therefore be seen that this invention provides a substantially self-contained mobile storage and dis play arrangement for merchandising pictorial art in which potential customers may be comfortably accommodated for viewing the selections available in the vehicle, and in which the selections may be viewed without removing them from storage.

The vehicle may be readily moved from place to place and thus is especially adapted for use in rural and other outlying areas where an adequate selection of pictorial art is usually not available to local residents.

While partitions comparable to partition 34 are desirable from the standpoint of aesthetics, they can be omitted if so desired.

In the showing of FIGS. 1 l2,

panels

48 and 48A are illustrated in largely block diagram form. FIGS. 13 15 show a modified panel arrangement 300 in accordance with the invention in which the panel comprises a series of horizontal channel shaped members 302 fixed together at their ends, to suitable vertical members 303 (of channel or angle shape), as by welding, in spaced apart relation defining operating slots 304 therebetween. The bracket structures 104 are suitably applied to the vertical members 303. Paintings 46 comprise a frame 306 to which the painting bearing canvas 308 is secured by affixing same to backboard 310, these components being secured together in any suitable manner.

In accordance with this invention the vertical sides 312 of picture frame 306 each have secured thereto the planar back side 313 thereof a mounting strip 314 that has notches 316 formed therein spaced for horizontal alignment with the respective slots 304 to receive the indented holding end 318 of a holding clip 320 of a set of picture mounting devices 322 applied at each corner of frame 306. Devices 322 also include a backing plate 324 applied against the back edges 325 of the panel channel member 302 involved, with a piar of screw devices 326 extending between plate 324 and the body 328 of clip 320,- through the slot 304 involved, for clamping clip body 328 and plate 324 together with the strip 314 associated therewith, against the panel. Screw devices 326 each comprise a suitable screw 339 equipped with a wing nut 340. When nuts 340 are loosened, devices 322 may be slid longitudinally of the slots 304 to separate the clips from the frame 306 for removing the frame from the panel.

Mounting devices 322 may be readily applied to the slots 304 as required across the vertical height of the panel for securing frames 306 of various sizes to the panel 300 and of course, can be removed and reapplied to different slots 304, depending on the location desired on the panel for a particular frame 312. Frames 306 are secured in place by placing their strips 314 against the panel and sliding the respective mounting devices 322 toward them to enter the clip ends in a selected 316, and then tightening screw devices 326.

Strips 314 are secured to the frame sides 312 by gluing or by employing suitable fasteners such as screws or the like (not shown). The rear sides 342 thereof are adapted to have hook eyes or the like applied thereto by the one who purchases the picture, for the purpose of hanging same.

The broader aspects of the invention contemplate panels comparable to panels 300 having heights of substantial full vehicle body height and suspended for convenient hand movement within the vehicle to expose the sides of same bearing the pictorial art for viewing purposes, either with reference to the viewing area 38 or with reference to an aisle running the length of body 12.

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not to be limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, since those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A vehicle for storing and displaying framed pictorial art for itinerant vending of same utilizing the vehicle, with the vehicle including an enclosed wheeled body having front and rear ends and sides extending between the body ends, door means adjacent the vehicle rear end for providing customer access into the vehicle body when the vehicle is parked for vending of the art, and means for moving the vehicle between vending sites, said vehicle body further including:

a partition mounted therein intermediate the body ends and extending transversely of said body for subdividing the interior of said body into a forward body space and a rearward body space that are respectively forwardly and rearwardly of said partition,

said body forward space having' positioned in same a plurality of upright panels extending transversely of the vehicle each including means for removably securing to the side of the same facing rearwardly of the vehicle framed pictorial art selections to be vended,

endless circuit means mounted in said body forward space for mounting said panels to move longitudinally of said body in superposed upper and lower circuit runs extending longitudinally of said body and to consecutively move vertically between said circuit runs, and for moving said panels consecutively along and between said runs and about said endless circuit means,

said partition being formed to define a viewing Window opening aligned with the level of the upper run of said panels and proportioned to expose for viewing purposes from the rearward body space said side of the panels of said circuit runs, that is positioned rearwardmost of the upper run,

said rearward body space including means for accommodating persons to view through said window opening the pictorial art selections of said .panel sides that are consecutively displayed through said window opening by movement of said panels about said circuit means,

with said door means being located to provide said customer access to said rearward body space,

said endless circuit means comprising:

a pair of upper trackways extending longitudinally of the vehicle and in opposed horizontally aligned re lation along the respective sides of the vehicle body, and forming the circuit upper run,

a pair of lower trackways extending longitudinally of the vehicle and in opposed horizontally aligned relation along the respective sides of the vehicle body, and forming the circuit lower run,

said trackways each respectively defining opposed terminal ends,

said panels being of similar quadrilateral configuration defining side edges on either side thereof that are disposed adjacent the respective body sides,

said panels at their respective side edges each having a bracket member secured thereto and including means for supporting the panel between the trackways of the respective pairs of trackways to dispose said panels in said circuit runs,

and means for consecutively transferring said panels said means for releasably securing the art selections to said side of the individual panels comprising a plurality of securing devices mounted on the respective panels, for random position adjustment horizontally of the respective panels, and in vertically spaced relation along the height of said panels, and including means for releasably clamping the frames of art selections of diverse sizes to said side of the individual panels in accordance with the sizes of the art selections to be applied to the panel,

said window opening being proportioned and being free of obstruction for hand application and hand removal of the art selections to and from the individual panels from said rearward body space through said window opening relative to individual panels when at said rearmost position relative to said body,

said bracket members of adjacent panels being in separate discrete relation,

said bracket members each including a portion extending longitudinally of said trackways when said panels are disposed in said circuit runs and terminating at forward and rearward ends,

said bracket portions being received on the respective trackways of the respective trackway pairs when said panels are disposed in said circuit runs and forming said panel supporting means and each including a bumper at either end thereof for engagement with like bumpers of adjacent panel bracket members when disposed in the respective trackways,

said bracket members being secured to their respective panels to suspend same from the respective trackways in a substantially vertical upright position,

said transferring means comprising an elevator apparatus at the ends of the respective trackways and including:

means for receiving the bracket members of one of said panels disposed at the ends of the respective trackways,

means for simultaneously and synchronoously vertically moving the respective elevator apparatus between the respective circuit runs for alignment with the trackways thereof,

and means for pushing the panel carried by the elevator apparatus at the forward ends of said circuit runs, when aligned with the circuit upper run, onto the trackways thereof to advance the panels of said upper run longitudinally thereof and rearwardly of the vehicle and dispose the rearward panel thereof in the elevator apparatus at the rearward ends of said runs at said rearwardmost position, and for pushing such rearwardmost panel, when said elevator apparatus is aligned with the circuit lower run, onto the circuit lower run trackways to dispose the forward panel thereof in the elevator apparatus at the forward ends of said runs for elevation of same to the circuit upper run,

said elevator apparatus at the respective ends of said runs each comprising:

a separate vertically movable trolley on each side of the vehicle,

said trolleys each carrying a horizontally disposed track element positioned for longitudinal alignment with the trackways serviced by the respective trolleys when said vertical moving means is operative to align the respective trolley track elements with their respective trackways,

said trolleys each carrying the respective pushing means thereof.

and means for releasably latching said panels of said runs from discharge from the circuit run trackway ends when said track elements are displaced from vertical alignment therewith.

Claims

1. A vehicle for storing and displaying framed pictorial art for itinerant vending of same utilizing the vehicle, with the vehicle including an enclosed wheeled body having front and rear ends and sides extending between the body ends, door means adjacent the vehicle rear end for providing customer access into the vehicle body when the vehicle is parked for vending of the art, and means for moving the vehicle between vending sites, said vehicle body further including: a partition mounted therein intermediate the body ends and extending transversely of said body for subdividing the interior of said body into a forward body space and a rearward body space that are respectively forwardly and rearwardly of said partition, said body forward space having positioned in same a plurality of upright panels extending transversely of the vehicle each including means for removably securing to the side of the same facing rearwardly of the vehicle framed pictorial art selections to be vended, endless circuit means mounted in said body forward space for mounting said panels to move longitudinally of said body in superposed upper and lower circuit runs extending longitudinally of said body and to consecutively move vertically between said circuit runs, and for moving said panels consecutively along and between said runs and about said endless circuit means, said partition being formed to define a viewing window opening aligned with the level of the upper run of said panels and proportioned to expose for viewing purposes from the rearward body space said side of the panels of said circuit runs, that is positioned rearwardmost of the upper run, said rearward body space including means for accommodating persons to view through said window opening the pictorial art selections of said panel sides that are consecutively displayed through said window opening by movement of said panels about said circuit means, with said door means being located to provide said customer access to said rearward body space, said endless circuit means comprising: a pair of upper trackways extending longitudinally of the vehicle and in opposed horizontally aligned relation along the respective sides of the vehicle body, and forming the circuit upper run, a pair of lower trackways extending longitudinally of the vehicle and in opposed horizontally aligned relation along the respective sides of the vehicle body, and forming the circuit lower run, said trackways each respectively defining opposed terminal ends, said panels being of similar quadrilateral configuration defining side edges on either side thereof that are disposed adjacent the respective body sides, said panels at their respective side edges each having a bracket member secured thereto and including means for supporting the panel between the trackways of the respective pairs of trackways to dispose said panels in said circuit runs, and means for consecutively transferring said panels between said pairs of trackways at the ends of same including means for intermittently moving said panels longitudinally of said trackway pairs in a consecutive manner about said endless circuit means whereby the individual panels are consecutively disposed in said rearmost position relative to said window opening with time delay between movements for viewing of pictorial art selections secured to said side of same by persons accomodated in said rearward body space, said means for releasably securing the art selections to said side of the individual panels comprising a plurality of securing devices mounted on the respective panels, for random position adjustment horizontally of the respective panels, and in vertically spaced relation along the height of said panels, and including means for releasably clamping the frames of art selections of diverse sizes to said side of the individual panels in accordance with the sizes of the art selections to be applied to the panel, said window opening being proportiOned and being free of obstruction for hand application and hand removal of the art selections to and from the individual panels from said rearward body space through said window opening relative to individual panels when at said rearmost position relative to said body, said bracket members of adjacent panels being in separate discrete relation, said bracket members each including a portion extending longitudinally of said trackways when said panels are disposed in said circuit runs and terminating at forward and rearward ends, said bracket portions being received on the respective trackways of the respective trackway pairs when said panels are disposed in said circuit runs and forming said panel supporting means and each including a bumper at either end thereof for engagement with like bumpers of adjacent panel bracket members when disposed in the respective trackways, said bracket members being secured to their respective panels to suspend same from the respective trackways in a substantially vertical upright position, said transferring means comprising an elevator apparatus at the ends of the respective trackways and including: means for receiving the bracket members of one of said panels disposed at the ends of the respective trackways, means for simultaneously and synchronoously vertically moving the respective elevator apparatus between the respective circuit runs for alignment with the trackways thereof, and means for pushing the panel carried by the elevator apparatus at the forward ends of said circuit runs, when aligned with the circuit upper run, onto the trackways thereof to advance the panels of said upper run longitudinally thereof and rearwardly of the vehicle and dispose the rearward panel thereof in the elevator apparatus at the rearward ends of said runs at said rearwardmost position, and for pushing such rearwardmost panel, when said elevator apparatus is aligned with the circuit lower run, onto the circuit lower run trackways to dispose the forward panel thereof in the elevator apparatus at the forward ends of said runs for elevation of same to the circuit upper run, said elevator apparatus at the respective ends of said runs each comprising: a separate vertically movable trolley on each side of the vehicle, said trolleys each carrying a horizontally disposed track element positioned for longitudinal alignment with the trackways serviced by the respective trolleys when said vertical moving means is operative to align the respective trolley track elements with their respective trackways, said trolleys each carrying the respective pushing means thereof. and means for releasably latching said panels of said runs from discharge from the circuit run trackway ends when said track elements are displaced from vertical alignment therewith.