US394481A - Show-case - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 28heets-Sheet 1.

F. X. GANTER. SHOW CASE.

No. 394,481. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

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(No Model. 2 Sheets Sheet 2.

F. X. GANTER.

SHOW CASE. No. 394,481. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

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ATTORNEY BY CAM/3 N. PETERS. Phoiwulhographr, Washington. 010.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS X. GANTER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SHOW-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,481, dated December 11, 1888.

Application filed April 28, 1888. Serial No. 272,182. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern- Be it known that I, FRANCIS X. GANTER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Bal-,

timore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Show-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invent-ion relates to an improved showcase, such as is used for the display of goods in stores, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective front view of the show-case. Fig. 2 is a perspective view on a large scale of one drawer and tray detached from the case. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the show-case, showing one drawer and a tray partly drawn out. Fig. 4 is a cross-section showing one drawer alone partly drawn out. In this instance the tray, which is movable by and with the drawer, is shown as remaining at the front position. Fig. 5 is a view of part of the show-case, and shows at the left side a partial front view and at the right a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one drawer without its tray.

The letter A designates the show-case, comprising the bottom I), moldingframe 0, and glass panel d. In the present instance the case is represented as long enough to require two cross-partitions, E, thereby dividing it into three compartments. A vertical wall, E, of same size as the partitions, is at each end of the case inside of the glass end panel. The cross-partitions and end walls are proy'ided with horizontal cleats or strips f for the drawers G to slide 011, and also with shorter cleats or strips, 72, for the trays I to set upon. The front ends of the tray-strips are beveled downward. The front sides and ends of the drawers are cut away at the top, as at j, and are not as high as the rear parts of the sides and the back 70. A detachable tray, I, rests upon the said cut-away or low front part,j, of each drawer G, and as the tray is shallow it will readily occupy said position and not project above the highest part of the side walls and back, is, of the drawer. The strips It should be a little higher than the top edge of the drawer cut-away j. As plainly shown, with the tray seated 011 its low front part it will pass in and out of the case A. The trays are for the display of small goods-such as jewelry, fancy articles, cutlery, and other goods which are desirable to be protected by a casewhile the drawers are for storage of goods.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby the display-trays I may be supported in a forward and conspicuous position in the show-case, while the storage-.

drawers G occupy the space below and behind the trays, and to so combine and connect these parts that the drawers will serve to place the trays in position to permit the withdrawal of the drawers without removing the trays from their forward position, and to remove the trays when desired by simply pulling out the drawers.

In the present instance the display-trays are made in two sections, o a, which are jointed or hinged together at the bottom. By this construction one section, a, may have a horizontal position on top of the low part j, ot' the drawer, and the 'other section, a, may tilt down and have a vertical or inclined position down the front end, It, of the drawer, thus utilizing all possible space for the display of goods. \Yhile the two-section trayand its arrangement on the drawer, as described, is very desirable, it is obvious my invention is not limited thereto, as the tray may be made in one section only.

The two outer sides of each d awer are provided with a horizontal groove or gain, h, along the top edge of the cut-away or low front part. When the drawer is in position within the case, this side groove or gain, h, receives the short strip 71, which is on the crosspartition, and which, being higher than the edge of the drawer cut-away will retain and support the tray I whenever the drawer is pulled out without the tray, as shown in the middle drawer of Fig. 4. The said horizontal groove or gain 71 may be on the sides of the drawers, as stated, or on the sides of the trays, or partly on the drawer and partly on the tray, as shown.

I provide the drawer with a suitable hook, Z, or other connecting device, whereby the tray may be coupled to the drawer Whenever it is desired to remove the tray from its position on the strips h. By bringing the couplinghook into position so it will couple with the .tray, as shown in the middledrawer of Fig.

3, the tray may be removed by pulling out the drawer.

The construction of the coupling-hook device may vary; but in the present instance it comprises two hook-levers, I, one pivoted close to'the inner surface of each two sides of the drawer., A horizontal rod or shaft, m, extends across the drawerfrom side to side, and the two hook-levers Z are made fast to this rod. The rod is capable of rocking like a rockshaft, and thereby the said hooks l may be moved upward to engage with lugs n on the bottom of the tray or with holes or sockets in the bottom of the tray, as may be preferred. One of the hook-levers has the shape of a bellcrank, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, and a wire or.

rod, 0, is attached to one arm of said bellcrank and extends along the side of the drawer to and through the back end,.7c, thereof, on the outside of which it has a small head, and on the inner side has a small collar, 19.

I A spring, q, is made fast by one end to the drawer back It, and its free end bears on the said collar on the rod 0. The'spring normally keeps the rod-head 0 projected. By pressing on the rod-head 0' the hook-lever Zwill couple with the tray 1, and then .by pulling the drawer-pull 1" both the drawer and tray may be removed from the case.

It will be understood the combination here shown of drawers and trays maybe used in a show-case without regard to the number of vertical cross-walls E that are used. Small show-cases having only two 1 such walls may be used.

In the present instance three tiers of drawers and trays are shown; but the number is immaterial. Any number from one drawer upward may be used. It will be observed the lower drawer is supported and slides on the bottom I) of the show -case, and no supportingstrips f are required.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In a show-case, the combination of vertical cross-walls provided with horizontal traysupporting strips h, a drawer, G, having the top edges of its front end and sides cut away lower than the said tray-strips, and a shallow detachable tray, I, resting upon the top edge of said cut-away drawer front, whereby the drawer, with the tray seated on its cut away front may readily pass into the show-case, and upon the drawer being pulled out leave the tray at its forward position in the showcase supported on the said strips.

2. In a show-case, the combination of vertical cross-walls provided with horizontal traysupporting strips h, a drawer, G, having the top edges of its front end and sides cut-away lower than the said tray-strips, and a shallow detachable tray, 1, made in two sections, a a, which are hinged together at the bottom and one section seated horizontally on the low drawer front and the other section tilted downward at the front end of the drawer.

3. In a show-case, the combination of vertical cross-walls provided with horizontal traysupporting strips h, a drawer, G, having the top edges of its front end and sides cut away lower than the said tray-strips, and a shallow detachable tray, I, resting upon the edge of said cut-away drawer front, a connecting device on the drawer to couple with the tray, as

described, and an operating wire or rod at tached to said connecting device and extending to the drawer back, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS X. GANTER.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. MORRIS, ROBERT L. CLEMMITT.

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