WO2005058102A1

WO2005058102A1 - Showcase

Info

Publication number: WO2005058102A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/002478
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kyung-Pyo Lee
Original assignee: Hongmi Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2003-12-17
Filing date: 2004-09-24
Publication date: 2005-06-30
Also published as: KR200345520Y1; CN100542460C; CN1893866A

Abstract

Disclosed is a showcase capable of rapidly and easily adjusting a horizontal width of each receptacle depending on shape and size of an installation space and the number of exhibits, thereby making efficient use of the installation space and maintaining a receiving space of a proper size at all times depending on a change in the number of the exhibits. The showcase includes at least one receptacle having an internal space for receiving articles and is characterized in that the receptacle includes a plurality of frames divided left and right, and that each frame includes guides slidably coupled to each other, thereby telescoping a horizontal width of the receptacle by 10 horizontal movement of the opposite frames.

Description

SHOWCASE

Technical Field The present invention relates to a showcase having at least one receptacle in which a receiving space is provided, and more particularly, to a showcase, in which each receptacle is telescoped in left and right directions (i.e., in a horizontal direction) at the same time, thereby being capable of easily and rapidly adjusting a horizontal width depending on a size or shape of a place to be installed as well as the number of articles to be displayed.

Background Art In general, a showcase is for displaying a variety of articles so that they may be shown from the outside, which is used to exhibit collections or collectibles for a decorative effect at home, to accommodate goods and simultaneously show the goods to consumers for the purpose of promoting purchase, for example, in a shop, or to conserve and show exhibits to visitors in an exhibition or museum. The general showcase is configured in the form of a receptacle where a predetermined size of receiving space is provided inside, and at least one side, especially, the front is opened so that the receiving space may be shown from the outside. Further, for the purpose of exhibiting articles in layers, at least one shelf is usually provided at each predetermined height in the receptacle. Furthermore, the conventional showcase is manufactured in a structure where an entire horizontal width is fixed. If necessary, it is manufactured in a structure where any internal shelves may be demounted. Thereby, it is possible to adjust an interval between the shelves. However, it is still impossible to change the entire horizontal width. Therefore, conventionally, as long as the showcase is not bought to exactly correspond to a space to be installed in shape and size, there is nothing for it to leave a surplus space around the installed showcase. Moreover, when the number of articles on display increases, a new showcase having a greater size must be bought. In addition, when the showcase, once installed, should be changed in position, the surroundings should be changed in position depending on the size of the showcase. Accordingly, the installation space for the showcase is restricted, or the surrounding space of the installation space is used to no purpose. Meanwhile, the showcase is constituted of a single receptacle, but in many cases, it further includes at least one independent receptacle having a different function, as a cabinet for auxiliary reception, for convenience of carriage and use. In this manner, the showcase constituted of a plurality of receptacles may display and receive more various articles by stacking each receptacle up and down. However, the plurality receptacles are responsible for more inconvenience which is caused by their installation, substitution, movement and so forth. Thus, in this multilayer showcase, it has been proposed that its installation space should be used efficiently.

Brief Description of the Drawings The foregoing and other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a showcase according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an explosive perspective view of the showcase illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a first receptacle of a showcase according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a second receptacle of a showcase according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a third receptacle of a showcase according to the present invention; Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a fourth receptacle of a showcase according to the present invention; Fig. 7 is a top view illustrating a telescoped state of a showcase according to the present invention; and Fig. 8 is a front view illustrating a telescoped state of a showcase according to the present invention.

Disclosure of the Invention Technical Problem Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above- mentioned problems, and it is an objective of the present invention to provide a showcase having at least one receptacle, capable of rapidly and easily adjusting a horizontal width of each receptacle depending on shape and size of an installation space and the number of exhibits, thereby making efficient use of the installation space and maintaining a receiving space of a proper size at all times depending on a change in the number of the exhibits.

Technical Solution In order to accomplish the objective, there is provided a showcase having at least one receptacle provided with an internal space for receiving articles, characterized in that the receptacle includes a plurality of frames divided left and right, and that each frame includes guides slidably coupled to each other, thereby telescoping a horizontal width of the receptacle by horizontal movement of the opposite frames. The receptacle may further include a connector slidably coupled between the divided frames. Further, the receptacle may be plural in number and vertically stacked, and the showcase may further include means for coupling the receptacles adjacent to each other so that each receptacle is integrally telescoped in a horizontal direction. The coupling means may include a coupler, and coupling protrusions formed on upper and lower sides thereof and inserted into the coupled holes, wherein the coupler is provided with coupled holes formed on top and bottom surfaces of each frame constituting each receptacle. At least one of the plurality of receptacles may include an auxiliary receptacle having a plurality of sliding doors in front thereof, and each of the sliding doors may overlap in part to maintain an opening/closing function while the receptacle is telescoped in the horizontal direction. At least one of the plurality of receptacles may include an auxiliary receptacle having at least one drawer withdrawn outside, and the drawer may be divided left and right, wherein the divided drawers are coupled in a partially overlapping manner to be movable in the horizontal direction. At least one of the plurality of receptacles may include a display stand having a plurality of shelves which extend in the horizontal direction and are provided at a predetermined interval, wherein each shelf is divided left and right and coupled to be movable in the horizontal direction. Further, at least one of the plurality of receptacles may be mounted with a signboard, and guide means for enabling relative movement in horizontal and vertical directions may be provided between the frame and the signboard.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a showcase according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is an explosive perspective view of the showcase illustrated in Fig. 1. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the showcase of the present invention is composed of a plurality of receptacles 110, 120, 130 and 140 which are assembled in a vertically stacked form. In this embodiment, the showcase assembled in such a way that four receptacles 110, 120, 130 and 140 having receiving spaces different from one another form four layers will be illustrated and described. The showcase according to the present embodiment has the first receptacle 110 formed as the lowest layer. The first receptacle 110 is configured of a first auxiliary receptacle having a pair of sliding doors I l ia and 111b which are slidably opened/closed in front thereof. The second receptacle 120 assembled on the first receptacle 110 is configured of a second auxiliary receptacle having a pair of drawers 121a and 121b which are pulled open in a forward direction. Further, the third receptacle 130 assembled on the second receptacle 120 is configured of a display stand having a plurality of shelves 131 which extend in a horizontal direction and spaced a predetermined distance from each other in a vertical direction. The fourth receptacle 140 assembled on the third receptacle 130 is configured of a third auxiliary receptacle having a signboard 141 mounted in front thereof. Meanwhile, as means for coupling the first to fourth receptacles 110, 120, 130 and 140 to each other, there is provided a coupler 150 having coupling protrusions 151 formed on both sides. Each of the receptacles 110, 120, 130 and 140 has coupled holes 152 which are formed on top and bottom surfaces of opposite ends located in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal and vertical directions and into which the coupling protrusions 151 of the coupler 150 are inserted. Therefore, the coupler 150 serves to couple the receptacles 110, 120, 130 and 140 located up and down to each other when being interposed between the receptacles 110, 120, 130 and 140, and serves as a support for supporting the showcase in contact with the ground when being coupled to the bottom surface of the first receptacle 110. In Fig. 3, a configuration of the first receptacle 110 is illustrated. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the first receptacle 110 is constructed so that a first connector 110c is slidably coupled between a pair of frames 110a and 110b separated left and right. Thus, when both frames 110a and 110b are slid in the horizontal direction, the first receptacle 110 may be telescoped left and right, namely, in the horizontal direction. Both sliding doors I l ia and 111b are manufactured to have an overlapping distance sufficient to maintain an opening/closing function when the first receptacle 110 is telescoped. Furthermore, the frames 110a and 110b are provided with guides 112a and 112b along their opposite edges extending in the horizontal direction, respectively. Here, both edges of the first comiector 110c are inserted into the guides 112a and 112b. With this configuration, when the frames 110a and 110b move in the horizontal direction, it is possible to prevent the first receptacle 110 from being twisted in shape. In Fig. 4, a configuration of the second receptacle 120 is illustrated. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the second receptacle 120 is constructed similar to the first receptacle 110 so that a pair of frames 120a and 120b are slidably coupled in the horizontal direction on opposite sides of a second connector 120c, thereby getting closer to or farther away from each other. Drawers 121a and 121b are provided to freely slide in and out in relation to the frames 120a and 120b. Each of the drawers 121a and 121b is fitted with guide rails 122 on opposite sides thereof. Inner walls of the frames 120a and 120b are provided with guide rollers (not shown) which are coupled to the guide rails 122 of the drawers 121a and 121b to guide the withdrawal of the drawers 121a and 121b. In particular, the drawer 121b on the right side as viewed from the figure is divided left and right in an overlapping manner. The divided right part is constructed to be telescoped in the horizontal direction together with the frame 120b. Meanwhile, although the drawers are divided into three parts in the figure, they may be divided into two parts. In Fig. 5, a configuration of the third receptacle 130 is illustrated. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the third receptacle 130 is also configured so that a pair of frames 130a and 130b are movable in the horizontal direction via a third connector 130c. Each shelf 131 installed in the third receptacle 130 is also divided left and right, so that it is slidably coupled via the third connector 130c and telescoped together with the frames 130a and 130b. In Fig. 6, a configuration of the fourth receptacle 140 is illustrated. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the fourth receptacle 140 is also configured so that a pair of frames 140a and 140b are slidably coupled in the horizontal direction on opposite sides of a fourth connector 140c. A signboard 141 is coupled in opened front of the frames 140a and 140b. The frames 140a and 140b are provided with guide rails 143 for guiding upward and downward movement of the signboard 141. The signboard 141 is provided with guide rollers (not shown) which move along the guide rails 143. The guide rollers are coupled to the signboard 141 so as to be slidable by a predetermined length in the horizontal direction while both frames 140a and 140b move in the horizontal direction. Further, the fourth receptacle 140 is provided with hooking means 145 for hooking the signboard 141. The signboard 141 is provided with a hooked part at a position corresponding to the hooking means 145. An operation of the showcase configured as set forth above will be described below. As illustrated in Fig. 1, when at least one of the receptacles 110, 120, 130 and

140 is pulled or pushed in the horizontal direction with the receptacles 110, 120, 130 and 140 assembled, the opposite frames 110a, 110b; 120a, 120b; 130a, 130b; 140a and 140b get closer to or farther away from each other with the connectors 110c, 120c, 130c and 140c interposed between them, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In other words, the receptacles 110, 120, 130 and 140 are coupled by the couplers 150, thus being integrally telescoped in the horizontal direction. Therefore, when at least one of the receptacles 110, 120, 130 and 140 is telescoped, the others are telescoped together. Accordingly, it is possible to adjust the horizontal length of the showcase according to the desire of a user. According to the showcase of the present invention, it is possible to exactly correspond to shape and size of installation space without any trouble, for example, to move the surroundings by means of simple adjustment of the horizontal length. As a result, the showcase may be installed without remaining spaces, so that it is possible to effectively use the space. In spite of an increase of the articles on display, it is possible to adjust capacity of the showcase. Thereby, it is possible to avoid a burden to additionally buy the showcase. Meanwhile, in the foregoing embodiment, the plurality of receptacles 110, 120,

130 and 140 are illustrated and described to perform different functions from one another. If necessary, the showcase may be constituted of only a single receptacle serving as the display stand without the auxiliary receptacles. Further, it is illustrated that the separate couplers 150 are provided as the coupling means between the receptacles 110, 120, 130 and 140. However, the couplers 150 may be formed integral with the receptacles 110, 120, 130 and 140 if necessary. For example, each of the receptacles 110, 120, 130 and 140 is provided with the coupling protrusion on one side and the coupled hole 152 on the other side, so that it is possible to provide a structure coupled to each other. For example, the coupled hole 152 may be formed in various forms such as a long groove extending in one direction. The coupler 150 or the coupling protrusion may be also formed in an arbitrary form so as to sustain horizontal fastening force in correspondence to the coupled hole 152. Further, in the foregoing embodiment, each receptacle constituting the showcase is illustrated to have three frames, i.e., one intermediate connector and two frames slidably coupled to the intermediate connector. However, the number of the frames constituting each receptacle may be variously set if necessary. For example, each receptacle consists of two frames divided left and right, and each frame is provided with guides which are slidably coupled to each other. In this manner, two frames may be configured to relatively move forward and backward with each other coupled. As can be seen from the foregoing, each frame constituting a single or plurality of receptacles is designed to be moveable in the horizontal direction, so that the showcase may be adjusted to a suitable size according to size and shape of the installation space when being installed. Thereby, it is possible to efficiently use a space without troublesome effort to secure the installation space. In addition, it is possible to easily adjust capacity of the showcase according to the number of exhibits, so that it is not necessary to additionally buy the showcase because of a change in the number of exhibits. Industrial Applicability While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment and the drawings, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A showcase having at least one receptacle provided with an internal space for receiving articles, characterized in that the receptacle includes a plurality of frames divided left and right, and that each frame includes guides slidably coupled to each other, thereby telescoping a horizontal width of the receptacle by horizontal movement of the opposite frames.

2. The showcase according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle further includes a connector slidably coupled between the divided frames.

3. The showcase according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the receptacle is plural in number and vertically stacked, and further includes means for coupling the receptacles adjacent to each other so that each receptacle is integrally telescoped in a horizontal direction.

4. The showcase according to claim 3, wherein the coupling means includes a coupler, the coupler being provided with coupled holes formed on top and bottom surfaces of each frame constituting each receptacle, and coupling protrusions formed on upper and lower sides thereof to be inserted into the coupled holes.

5. The showcase according to claim 3, wherein: at least one of the plurality of receptacles includes an auxiliary receptacle having a plurality of sliding doors in front thereof; and each of the sliding doors overlaps in part to maintain an opening/closing function while the receptacle is telescoped in the horizontal direction.

6. The showcase according to claim 3, wherein: at least one of the plurality of receptacles includes an auxiliary receptacle having at least one drawer withdrawn outside; and the drawer is divided left and right and the divided drawers are coupled in a partially overlapping manner to be movable in the horizontal direction.

7. The showcase according to claim 3, wherein: at least one of the plurality of receptacles includes a display stand having a plurality of shelves which extend in the horizontal direction and are provided at a predetermined interval; and each shelf is divided left and right and coupled to be movable in the horizontal direction.

8. The showcase according to claim 3, wherein: at least one of the plurality of receptacles is mounted with a signboard; and guide means for enabling relative movement in horizontal and vertical directions is provided between the frame and the signboard.