US452377A - Revolving show case - Google Patents

Description

O. H. KEAN.

REVOLVING snow CASE.

(No Model.)

Patented May 19,1891.

umus PETERS co, mom-L Tm WASHINGTQN n c UNITED STATES i PATENT OFFICE.

OTIS H. KEAN, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

REVOLVING SHOW-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,377, dated May 19, 1891.

Application filed August 6, 1890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTIS H. KEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in=Revolving Show-Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to show-cases, and more particularly to that class thereof known as revolving show-cases and among the objects in View are to provide a revolving show-case which is adapted to permit of the ready insertion and removal of articles to be displayed therein; to provide a revolvingshowcase wherein the greatest amount of space is utilized for the articles to be displayed; to provide a revolving show-case wherein the racks for supporting the articles are yieldingly supported within the case and are adapted to always keep the boxes containing the articles against the sides of the case, and thus adapt the articles to be more closely examined and prevent said boxes from falling out of place when the case is revolved; and with these objects in view the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a revolving show-case constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the show-case. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the supporting-racks.

In constructing my show-case I may make the same of any suitable shape, and although I have shown in the drawings the case as having a triangular shape it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to such shape.

A indicates the show-case, the sides B of which are pivoted at one edge to the frame of the case, as shown,whereby said sides may be readily swung open to permit of access to the interior of the case. The end sections a of the case, which may be of metal or glass or may have the radiating metallic arms a are each provided with a journal I), which has a Serial No. 361,187. (No modelJ bearing in suitable supports C, which may be secured to a table or counter.

To prevent any unsteadiness or retrograde movement of the case when the same is being revolved, I may employ any suitable looking device-as, for instance, a ratchetwheel 0, mounted on one of the journals, with the teeth of which ratchet-wheel engages a pawl d pivoted to one of the supports 0. The ratchet-wheel may be made of hard rubber to obviate any noise that would be occasioned during the revolution of the case were said ratchet-wheel made of metal.

For supporting the articles within the case so that the same maybe readily inserted and withdrawn from the case, that said articles may be displayed to the best advantage and firmly held in position during the turning of the case, and that the greatest amount of space may be utilized for the display of articles, I employ the construction and arrangement of supporting-racks shown more plainly in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

D indicates the supporting-racks, each composed of the wire rods cl (Z d, the rods d d being secured by means of solder or otherwise to the longitudinal sections a of the frame of the case. I however prefer to removably connect the rods d d to said frameas, for instance, by means ot'the hooks d formed on the ends of the rods, said hooks entering eyes 61 carried by the frame. The rear ends of the rods (6 d pass through eyes d formed in the ends of the rods d, and are enlarged to prevent said rods (Z (Z withdrawing through the same.

The number of racks employed and the distance that the same are arranged apart within the case may vary. I however prefer to arrange the racks in pairs, the racks in each pair being rather close together, whereby each pair of racks will be designed -to carry or support one boX containing the articles to be exhibited, and whereby a narrow box may be supported with as much facility and firmness as a wide box.

In order that the boxes when in position upon the racks may be firmly held and prevented from falling out of place when the case is being revolved, it is my intention to always maintain said boxes with a slight pressure against the inner face of the sides of the case,

and thus also adapt the articles to be more closely inspected by the buyer. For these purposes I make the racks yielding by employing light coiled springs e, which encircle the rods (1 (Z and are secured at their ends to the front ends of rods (1 d and the rods (1', respectively. By this means a box may be placed upon the racks, its lower end resting upon the lower rods cl and its bottom resting upon the rods (1', and after the side of the case has been closed the springs will force the box forward against the inner face of the side of the case and hold the same with sufficient pressure to prevent the box from sliding or falling out of place when the case is turned.

If at any time it becomes desirable to arrange the boxes too deep upon the racks, this can be readily done, the springs yielding suffieiently to permit of this, and when the uppermost box has become empty and been removed the springs will at once force the lowermost box forward against the side of the case, as before explained. This feature of having the racks yielding to permit of the arrangement of two or more rows of boxes resting one upon another I consider of great importance, for in this manner I can utilize the greatest possible amount of space within the case for the display of articles.

here pivoted or suspended trays are employed, as has been heretofore proposed, it is impossible to exhibit the articles with as much facility or to arrange them within the case as conveniently as with my arrangement and construction of racks, and, furthermore, my racks occupy but little room within the case, which cannot be said of the suspended trays.

\Vhen a show-case is employed of considerable height, it may be desired to arrange two rows of boxes running longitudinally of the case, one row in the upper part of the case and the other row in the lower part thereof. For this arrangement the frame of the case should be provided with a section running longitudinally of the case and midway of the height thereof, so as to adapt two series of racks to be arranged and properly secured within the case.

Another advantage connected with my construction of show-case lies in the fact that all the sides of the case are pivoted and can be readily swung open to expose the articles at any point in the case. In some show-cases it has been heretofore proposed to employ an oscillating lid or cover section which may be swung back and forth within the case to expose or cover an opening in one side of the case. Such aconstruction will, however, tend to increase the cost of the case, and, furthermore, only one side or portion of the case being open, it will be obvious that it will be very inconvenient to reach those articles which may be arranged in that portion of the interiorofthe case farthest from the openin Other advantages inherent to my construction of show-case will be apparent from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. The combination, with the revolving show-case having all of its sides pivoted or hinged at one edge to the frame of the case, of a series of supporting-racks secured to the said frame, one portion or section of each of said racks being yieldingly supported and adapted to have a rectilinear movement toward and from the sides of the case, as described, for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with the revolving show-case having all of its sides pivoted or hinged at one edge to the frame of the case, of a series of supporting-racks D, consisting of the rods (Z cl, secured at one end to the frame of the case, the rods (1, carried by the rods d d,'and the coiled springs encircling the rods (1 d and secured at their ends to the latter, and the rods (1, all said parts being arranged as described, for the purpose specified.

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

OTIS ll. KEAN.

Witnesses:

W. E. BOULTER, WM. BAGGER.

Images