WO1992008218A1

WO1992008218A1 - A display case

Info

Publication number: WO1992008218A1
Application number: PCT/SE1991/000714
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mikael HALLSTRÖM; Per-Olov SÖDERSTRÖM
Original assignee: Hallstroem Mikael; Soederstroem Per Olov
Priority date: 1990-10-25
Filing date: 1991-10-24
Publication date: 1992-05-14
Also published as: SE465985B; SE9003417D0; SE9003417L

Abstract

The invention relates to a display case or cabinet which includes preferably a plurality of light-generating devices which surround the case or cabinet and wherein at least one of the wall-parts, the front-part (4), of the case consists totally or partially of a transparent material (4') so as to enable a message, an address or an article to be seen from the outside. Remaining wall-parts (2, 3) consist of rails or bars, preferably extruded lightmetal rails or bars, and at least the front-part (4), carrying the transparent material (4'), is provided with a frame or a frame-part (5), preferably an extruded lightmetal rail or bar, which in cross-section has a configuration which affords pivotal coaction with the rail-edge of an adjacent wall-part (2). The rail-edge of the adjacent wall-part is provided with a slot (11) having an arcuate edge (12) which functions as a slide surface upon pivotal coaction with a frame-part (5), wherein the frame-part (5) is provided with an outwardly directed projection (5a) carried by the curved slot (11). A straight slot (2b) is provided adjacent the curved slot (11) and is able to firmly hold a fixedly mounted plate or panel (7).

Description

TITLE or THE INVENTION: A DISPLAY CΛSE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a display case or display cabinet adapted to the kind of displays which comprise an outer casing which encloses requisite light-generating devices and with which at least one of the wall-parts of the casing, designated its front wall, will preferably consist completely or partially of transparent material so as to visibilize from the outside a message, an address or an article illuminated and/or made translucent by the light-generating de¬ vices, and with which other wall-parts and side-walls shall advantageously consist of rails or bars which coact with one another at the edge surfaces thereof, and which are preferably in the form of extruded light¬ metal rails or bars.

The invention relateother walls particularly to that kind of illuminated display case or cabinet where at least one wall-part, designated the front wall, which supports the transparent material and which is provided along at least one edge part with a frame composed of one or more frame parts, each in the form of an ex¬ truded lightmetal rail or bar, wherein at least one frame- part, normally the horizontally extending upper¬ most frame-part has an arcuate shape which affords pivotal coaction with the front rail-edge of an adjacent wall-part.

The term "transparent material", as used here, does not only include a more or less light-permeable plate or sheet, but also a light-impermeable plate or sheet into which requisite information has been cut.

BACKGROUND ART

Various different types of display cases or cabinets of the aforedescribed kind are known to the art.

Particular reference is made to the embodiment illus¬ trated and described in European Patent Application No. 0 114 453, where an upper, horizontal frame-part be¬ longing to the surface or front part of the display includes an upwardly bent, right-angled part which is intended for coaction with a downwardly open slot formed in the rail-edge of the upper, front wall-wall of the illuminated display case such as to form a horizontal hinge which enables the front wall or panel of the case or cabinet to be swung open, an article removed, and swung back to close the case or cabinet.

The profiled section used for the case or cabinet is of complicated configuration, as is also the profiled section configuration used for the frame-part.

With regard to the hinge construction, this construc- tion is not only weak but also has a configuration which is able to generate high fracturing forces if the front wall is pivoted or swung in a careless fash¬ ion, therewith risking fracture to parts of the pro¬ filed section.

The case or cabinet described and illustrated in the Swedish Patent Application No. 7106573-4 also forms part of the prior art. In this case, the front wall is secured to the case by means of a straight groove or slot formed in the front edge surface or rail-edge, which coacts with a frame-part having a straight rail or bar and attached to the edge region of the front surface. This rail or bar is inserted into the slot or groove by moving the rail rectilinearly in the direc- tion of the straight slot.

In order to further illustrate the earlier standpoint of techniques, reference is made to published specifi¬ cation GB-A-2 062745, where a front wall is spaced from the hinge means.

This can also be said to apply to the embodiment il¬ lustrated in published specification US-λ-3,863, in which Figure 3 illustrates t, symmetric metal profile.

Finally, reference can be made to publications US-A-4,327,513, CA-A-1,110,448 and DE-D-22 17 960, which also illustrate and describe arrangements of a kind which can be said to resemble the category of display cases to which the present invention relates.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS

When considering the earlier state of the prior art as described above, it will be seen that a qualified technical problem lies in the ability of producing a display case from a few extruded, lightmetal rails or bars, each having a simple profiled section shape and which in coaction with one another not only provide a stable, outer casing but also a construction in which the front wall can be easily swung from its closed to its open position, and vice versa, without danger of the hinge means being subjected to large, uncontroll¬ able fracturing forces, and therewith provide condi¬ tions which by special selection of a profiled section at its end-part be able to choose between .the use of a wall or a hinge means which are positioned closely adjacent one another.

It will also- be seen that a technical problem resides in the provision of a case construction in which only three simple profiled sections are available and adap¬ ted for extrusion, and of which two profiled sections belonging to the frame each has a configuration which lies close to the configuration of the other.

Another technical problem associated with such con¬ structions resides in the provision of hinge means which while requiring a short arcuate slot will never¬ theless provide a satisfactory and sinple pivotal action and which, in addition, is able to provide and create conditions whereby the front wall and its frame can be readily removed from the remainder of the case in a given, highly swung position of said front wall.

Another technical problem is one of realizing the significance of being able to use one and the same profiled section for the top, the bottom and the side walls of the display case, and therewith create condi¬ tions for providing two openable and readily removable, opposing front walls of the same configuration.

When departing from a slot provided in an upper, hori¬ zontal wall-part such as to function as a slide surface upon pivotal coaction with an upper frame-part for a front-part, where the frame-part has a slightly curved edge surface for mutual slideable coaction between the rail-edge and the slot, a further technical problem resides in understanding the need for a simple profiled section which is symmetrical and whose end- parts present a straight slot and an arcuate slot positioned closely adjacent one another in order to enable a flat plate or a frame-part of an openable front wall to coact with an arcuate projection.

A further study of the known prior art will show that another technical problem is one of realizing the advantages that are afforded when opposing frame-parts are formed in this way, i.e. with an arcuate projection for an upper and a lower frame-part, such that these two frame-parts together with a plate or sheet will coact with the upper and the lower wall-part respec¬ tively in a flexurally strong fashion, such as to form a case or cabinet having a single pivotal front wall, and to realize, at the same time, that by providing the pivotal front wall with a single, similar frame-part, said front wall can be caused to coact pivotally with the upper or the lower wall-part and to be readily removed therefrom.

It must also be considered a technical problem to provide a profiled section which can be slightly modi¬ fied for use for the three free edge surfaces if the pivotal front wall.

In the case of an extruded lightmetal rail or bar intended to serve as upper and lower wall-parts, a further technical problem is one of realizing that such a rail or bar may well comprise the same profiled sec¬ tion and that mutually remote arcuate slots should have a particular configuration and present an angle of about 60^* for simple pivotal coaction with the front-part belonging to the adjacent frame-part and a simple fixed coaction with the fixed back-part belong¬ ing to the adjacent frame-part.

Another technical problem is also one of realizing the possible simplifications that can be achieved by form¬ ing the upper and the lower part of the case or cabi¬ net, and also the side walls thereof, with a rail or bar of one and the same cross-sectional profile, i.e. profiled section, and for these profiles to coact with one another via a 45"-mitre and simple holding devices.

SOLUTION

The present invention provides a solution to one or more.of the aforesaid technical problems and is based on a display case or cabinet which comprises an outer casing and preferably a plurality of light-generating devices surrounding said casing, and wherein at least one of the wall-parts, the front part, of the casing comprises, either completely or partially, a trans¬ parent material so as to render a visible message, an address or an article displayed in the display case, and wherein remaining wall-parts comprise rails or bars, preferably extruded lightmetal rails or bars, and wherein at least said one wall-part supporting the transparent material coacts with a frame or a frame- part, preferably an extruded lightmetal rail or bar having a orm which provides pivotal coaction with the front rail-edge of an adjacent wall-part.

In an illuminated display case of this kind, the rail of the adjacent wall-part has in cross-section a slot which presents an arcuate edge which functions as a slide surface for pivotal coaction with a frame-part, wherein respective frame-parts are provided with an outwardly projecting, slightly curved edge which ex¬ tends along the arcuate edge.

According to the present invention, the slot shall have a part-circular shape with its centre located in or at a small distance from the outermost rail-edge of a first wall-part, and that a plate-receiving aperture is provided between the slot and the rail-edge of said wall-part, said plate being intended to form a wall- part which is attached to the first wall-part at a right angle thereto.

As preferred embodiments which lie within the scope of the invention, a frame-part intended for coaction with the .slot has an arcuate, outwardly projecting part and an aperture which is adapted to receive a plate or sheet, preferably a transparent plate, where said plate is intended to form an openable wall-part.

A guide member is provided for guiding the outwardly projecting part beyond the slot and towards a projec¬ tion located adjacent said aperture.

The slot has a circular-arcuate shape, and can be either equal to or somewhat smaller than 50^*.

A rail profile for a fixed wall-part has a mirror- symmetrical shape with respect to a central plane.

Upper and lower wall-parts, and also the side-wall- parts, preferably comprise a^' rail of one and the same profiled section. When a front-part is to be attached pivotally to an upper wall-part, via an arcuately curved edge of a frame-part, the lower part of the front-part and also side-located frame-parts shall comprise a different, but essentially similar rail-profile.

ADVANTAGES

Those advantages primarily afforded by a display case or cabinet constructed in accordance with the present invention reside in the provision of conditions which enable a display case to be constructed from a few, readily manufactured lightmetal profiles, one profile for upper and lower wall-parts and side-wall-parts, one profile for coaction between three frame-parts and respective wall-parts, and one profile for the pivotal edge region of a pivotal front-part.

Advantageous coaction between the components is achieved by a plate-receiving straight slot and a frame-part receiving arcuate slot for their pivotal coaction, located close to one another.

The main characteristic features of an illuminated display case constructed in accordance with the present invention are set forth in the characterizing clause of Claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OP THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of an illuminated display case at present preferred and exhibiting characteristic features sig- ni leant of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an illuminated dis- play case, seen partially in section;

Figure 2 illustrates a rail of profiled cross-section and intended for the upper case part; Figure 3 illustrates the left part of the rail profile shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a profiled frame- part which fonus a hinge means and intended for an openable front surface; and

Figure 5 illustrates the frame-part of Figure 4 in pivotal coaction with the rail-profile of Figure 3.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS AT PRESENT PREFERRED

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of an outer casing 1 manufactured in accordance with the inventive principles and suitably adapted for an il¬ luminated display having a longitudinal extension which is greater than the illustration extension.

The outer casing comprises an upper, horizontal wall- part 2 and a lower, horizontal wall-part 3 in the form of rails or bars, preferably extruded, symmetrical lightmetal rails or bars of mutually the same cross- sectional configuration and in mirror image. The outer casing also includes two side-parts, not shown in detail, which have profiles of the same cross- sectional shape as the wall-parts 2 and 3.

The wall-part 2, adjacent side-parts and the wall-part 3 and side-parts are mutually joined by a 45^*-mitre and simple holding devices.

The casing 1 is provided with a front-part 4, the upper edge-part of which is pivotally connected at 10 to the upper or top wall-part 2, and a part or back-part 7 which is fixedly connected to the upper and lower wall- parts 2, 3.

It lies within the scope of the invention for either the.front-part 4 to be fixedly mounted or the back-part 7 to be fixedly mounted, and for the front-part 4 and/or the back-part 7 to be oveably mounted on the wall-parts 2, 3.

In the illustrated embodiment, the front-part 4 is pivotally mounted and the back-part 7 fixedly mounted.

The back-part 7 consists of a plate or panel whose edge regions are intended to coact with a straight slot 2a provided in the wall-part 2 and corresponding straight slots provided in the rail profile intended for the wall-part 3 and the side wall-parts.

The front-part 4 consists of a transparent plate or panel 4' and preferably a completely surrounding frame, where an upper frame-part 5^'has a cross-sectional shape which conforms with the cross-sectional shape described below with reference to Figure 4, and a lower frame- part 6 whose transversely extending frame-parts (not shown) have a cross-sectional shape which differs only slightly from the cross-sectional shape of the frame- part 5.

The cross-sectional shape of the frame-part 6 is simi¬ lar to the cross-sectional shape illustrated in Figure 4, but with the exception that the arcuate projection 5a is omitted.

The back-part 7 may also consist of a transparent plate or panel 7', where the upper part of said plate or panel 7' coacts with a slot 2a in the aforedescribed manner and the lower part of the plate or panel 7' coacts with a corresponding slot in the wall-part 3.

The .upper and the lower wall-part are held firmly at right angles by means of side-wall-parts, not shown.

The front-part 4, however, comprises a separate unit and, with the aid of hinge means 10 whose construction and function will be described hereinafter with refer¬ ence to Figure 5, can be swung to the closed position illustrated in Figure 1 or swung about its upper edge of frame-part 5 to an outwardly extending position in which the whole of said front-part can be readily re¬ moved from the display case, if so desired.

It is suggested that the hinge means is constructed so that the front-part 4 must be swung through an angle of at least 70^* before the front-part 4 can be lifted out of its coaction with the wall-part 2.

The outer casing illustrated in Figure 1 encloses a number of light-generating devices (not shown) mounted in a prefabricated box, where at least one of the in a prefabricated box, where at least one of the wall-parts of the casing, the front-part 4, consists either entirely or partially of a transparent material 4', so as to make visible from outside the display case a message, an address or an article illuminated and/or made translucent by the light-generating devices. The remaining wall-parts 2, 3 and side wall-parts consist of rails or bars, preferably extruded lightmetal rails or bars, of the same cross-sectional shape and imperme- able to light.

At least one wall-part, the front-part 4, will prefer¬ ably support the transparent material 4', which is embraced by a frame constructed from a plurality of frame-parts 5, 6, preferably from an extruded light¬ metal rail or bar, and the uppermost frame-part 5 will have a form which affords pivotal coaction with the rail-part of an adjacent wall-part 2.

The invention thus provides a rail profile which not only is able to afford a fixed and stable coaction with a plate or panel but also pivotal coaction of a front- part.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the rail of the wall-part 2 is provided with a straight slot 2b and an arcuate slot 11, wherein the slot 11 is defined, inter alia, by an arcuate edge 12 which is smaller than a semi-circle.

The upper part of the edge 12 functions as a slide surface 10 during pivotal coaction, indicated in Figure 5, between an upper frame-part 5 of the front-part 4 and the rail-edge of the upper wall-part 2.

SUBSTITUTESHEET As will be seen from the enlarged view of Figure 4, the frame-part 5 is provided with an outwardly directed, slightly arcuate projection 5a which can engage along the aforesaid arcuate edge 12 and which has an outer slide surface 13 whose curvature is smaller than 60^*.

The slide surface 10 on the arcuate edge 12 is intended to extend downwards so that its lowermost edge-line 10' will be located adjacent an extension of an inner, planar surface-part 2b' of the straight slot 2b, and so that said lowermost edge-line will also be located horizontally closer to an edge-line 2b'" of an outer planar edge-part 2b" than the thickness of the pro¬ jection 5a.

A line extended between the edge-line 10' and the edge- line 2b"' shall form an angle of less than 45^* with a horizontal plane or an upper surface 2'.

A slot 15 is provided in the part 2 and a slot 16 is provided in the part 5 for the purpose of mounting known holding or securing devices.

A plate or panel (similar to the plate or panel 7') can be held firmly between two wall-parts 2, 3 and two side wall-parts in the straight slot 2b and other straight slots.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of an upper frame- part 5 of the openable front-part 4, said frame-part including a straight slot 5b having planar surface- parts 5b' and 5b" for holding the plate or panel 4'.

Figure 5 illustrates the pivotal coaction between the upper-part 2 and the frame-part 5, where the latter is

SUBSTITUTESHEET shown in three different positions.

In the first position, the front-part 5 is closed and the projection 5a is fully inserted in the slot 11.

The projection 5a is guided in the slot 11 when the front-part 5 is opened to the second illustrated posi¬ tion.

Further rotation causes the projection 5a to leave the slot, although further rotation is required before the front-part 5 can be removed, due to the presence of a guide member 20.

It should be noted that the pivot centre "c" is located on the edge-line 2" of the rail 2 and that the edge- line 2b"' functions as a guide similar to the edge- line 20' of the guide member 20, 10 beyond the edge- line 2b".

The edge-line 20' is preferably placed close to the channel 16 when the frame-part 5 occupies its closed position.

It will be understood that the invention is not res¬ tricted to the aforedescribed and illustrated embodi¬ ments thereof and that modifications can be made within the scope of the invention defined in the following Claims.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims

ς_l___U_S.

1. A display case or cabinet comprising preferably a plurality of light-generating devices which surround said case, wherein at least one of the wall-parts of said case, its front-part, consists totally or parti¬ ally of a transparent material so as to make a message, an address, an article visible from the outside, and wherein remaining wall-parts comprise, among other things, rails or bars, preferably extruded lightmetal rails or bars, wherein at least one said wall-part, which supports the transparent material, is provided with a frame or a frame-part, preferably an extruded lightmetal rail, having a cross-sectional shape which affords pivotal coaction with the rail-edge of an adjacent wall-part, wherein the rail-edge of the ad¬ jacent wall-part is provided with a slot having an arcuate edge surface which functions as a slide surface upon pivotal coaction with a frame-part, and wherein the frame-part is provided with an outwardly directed, slightly curved edge which extends along the arcuate edge, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the slot (11) has a partially arcuate shape with its center (C) located on or at a small distance from the outermost edge-line (2") of the first wall-part (2); and in that there is provided between the slot (11) and the edge of said wall-part an aperture (2b) which will receive a plate or panel (7) which is intended to form a wall- part which is fixed perpendicularly to the first wall- * part.

2. A display case according to Claim 1 , c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the frame-part ( 5) coacting with said slot has a partially arcuate , outwardly projecting part (5a) and an aperture (5b) adapted to receive a

SUBSTITUTE SHEET plate or panel, preferably a transparent plate or panel which is intended to form an openable wall-part.

3. A display case according to Claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a guide member (20) which functions to guide the outwardly projecting part (5a) beyond the slot (2b) and against a projection located adjacent said aperture.

4. A display -case according to Claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the slot has a partially arcuate shape smaller than 50^*.

5. A display case according to Claim 1, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that a rail-profile (2) for a fixed wall-part has a mirror-symmetrical form with respect to a central plane.

6. A display case according to Claim 1, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that upper and lower wall-parts com¬ prise a rail of one and the same cross-sectional pro¬ file.

7. A display case according to Claim 1, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that the front-part is pivotally mounted to an upper wall-part via a curved edge of said frame-part, whereas the lower part of the front-part carries a corresponding frame-part which lacks a curved edge.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET