U.S. patent number 3,801,055 [Application Number 05/287,238] was granted by the patent office on 1974-04-02 for lockable support for artistic renderings on display.
Invention is credited to Roy T. Stenger.
United States Patent |
3,801,055 |
Stenger |
April 2, 1974 |
LOCKABLE SUPPORT FOR ARTISTIC RENDERINGS ON DISPLAY
Abstract
A lockable support for artistic renderings on display, in a
preferred embodiment, comprises a hollow column, a floor-secured
upright frame positioned centrally within the column having a lock
acceptor means at its top, and a lockable top cover which accepts
the base of the artistic rendering to be displayed. This lockable
support protects the displayed article from theft and from falling,
when the top cover with the artistic rendering is positioned on the
column and locked to the frame, making unaccessible all fastener
means used to secure the displayed object so long as the locking
mechanism remains engaged. In another embodiment, the upright frame
is weighted near the floor, in lieu of bolting to the floor. Each
embodiment makes a secure and attractive pedestal for use in
museums, public buildings and elsewhere, where both stability and
securability of the artistic renderings, such as sculptures, is
sought.
Inventors: |
Stenger; Roy T. (Tacoma,
WA) |
Family
ID: |
23102031 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/287,238 |
Filed: |
September 8, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/176.1;
D11/158; 248/551; 70/168; 428/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B
73/00 (20130101); A47B 97/00 (20130101); Y10T
70/5584 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
97/00 (20060101); E05B 73/00 (20060101); A47g
029/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;248/154,158,176,203
;70/167,168,169 ;292/101 ;232/41 ;161/20 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Parsons, Jr.; Marion
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Mattern, Jr.; Roy F.
Claims
I claim:
1. A lockable support for artistic renderings protecting one or
more artistic renderings such as a sculpture displayed thereon both
from theft and damage by falling as several fasteners concealed
inside and made unaccessible when locked, secure both the artistic
rendering and the lockable support in their respective display
positions, comprising:
a. an upright frame to be firmly positioned below to a support
structure such as a floor or table and having a lock mechanism
acceptor, and having guides which insure the concentric placement
of a hollow column about the upright frame;
b. a hollow column surrounding the upright frame;
c. a top cover on which one or more artistic renderings may be
secured with fasteners from below, having a locking mechanism to
secure it to the lock mechanism acceptor of the upright frame,
after the hollow column has been placed around this upright frame
thereby making unaccessible, so long as the locking mechanism is
locked, both a positioning means maintaining the upright frame on a
selected structure such as a floor and fastening means securing the
displayed artistic rendering to this top cover and consequently to
the overall lockable upright support.
2. A lockable support for artistic renderings, as claimed in claim
1, wherein the lock mechanism acceptor of the upright frame is a
bar to which a key-movable hook may be engaged, and wherein the top
cover has flanges extending downwardly about the hollow column.
3. A lockable support for artistic renderings, as claimed in claim
2, wherein a barrel lock with keyhole aperture is mounted on a
flange of the top cover and a portion thereof is secured to a shaft
which in turn is fitted with a hook so upon turning of a key the
shaft and hook pivot to become engaged with the lock mechanism
acceptor bar of the upright frame, thereafter preventing the
removal of the top cover from the upright frame and securing the
artistic rendering in place.
4. A lockable support for artistic renderings which protects them
when displayed thereon from theft and from falling by lockably
making unaccessible both the fastening means securing the artistic
rendering and components of the lockable support in their
respective display positions, comprising:
a. an upright frame to be secured with threaded fastener means to a
principal support structure such as a floor, having guide means to
insure the concentric placement of a hollow column about the
upright frame, and also having a lock mechanism acceptor to which a
key lock movable hook may be engaged;
b. a hollow column substantially the same length as the upright
frame to be slipped around the upright frame; and
c. a top cover for the column and upright frame on which one or
more artistic renderings are to be displayed and to be secured with
one or more threaded fasteners, having a surrounding flange
extending downwardly about the outside of the hollow column after
the hollow column has been slipped around the upright frame, and
having a locking mechanism incorporating a barrel lock with a
keyhole aperture mounted on the surrounding flange and including a
shaft secured to part of the locking mechanism and fitted with a
hook pivoted, as the key is turned, to engage the lock mechanism
acceptor on the upright frame, thereafter making inaccessible, both
the fastening means securing the upright frame to its principal
supporting structure below and the fastening means securing the
displayed artistic renderings to the top cover, until the lock
mechanism is unlocked.
5. A lockable support for artistic renderings which protects them
when displayed thereon from theft and from falling by lockably
making unaccessible both the fastening means securing the artistic
rendering and components of the lockable support in their
respective display positions, comprising:
a. an upright frame to be positioned on a principal support
structure, such as a table, using weights positioned on the upright
frame, having receiving structure to position the weights and
guiding structure to insure the concentric placement of a hollow
column about the upright frame, and also having a lock mechanism
acceptor to which a key lock movable hook may be engaged;
b. a hollow column substantially the same length as the upright
frame to be slipped around the upright frame; and
c. a top cover for the column and upright frame on which one or
more artistic renderings are to be displayed and to be secured with
one or more threaded fasteners, having a surrounding flange
extending downwardly about the outside of the hollow column after
the hollow column has been slipped around the upright frame, and
having a locking mechanism incorporating a barrel lock with a
keyhole aperture mounted on the surrounding flange and including a
shaft secured to part of the locking mechanism and fitted with a
hook pivoted, as the key is turned, to engage the lock mechanism
acceptor on the upright frame, thereafter making inaccessible both
the weights maintaining the upright frame on its principal
supporting structure below and also the fastening means securing
the displayed artistic renderings to the top cover, until the lock
mechanism is unlocked.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Security from theft, vandalism and breakage is of major importance
and concern where artistic renderings are displayed particularly in
public places. Sophisticated electronic and mechanical alarm
systems are now employed along with guards to protect expensive
works of art from being stolen or damaged. These measures work to
an extent, but still do not prevent a thief or vandal from doing
damage before being apprehended, or even on occasions removing an
artisitc rendering. Further, alaram systems and guards are
relatively expensive, especially to museums and art galleries that
are working on a limited budget.
The lockable support for artistic renderings on display, at
described herein, is a positive, yet comparatively inexpensive,
effective restraint on the otherwise possible theft and destruction
of the artistic rendering of objects. With or without additional
alarm systems, the lockable support, often in the form of a
pedestal, performs the task of physically holding and locking the
artistic rendering, while creating a beneficially attractive
display. Upon locking, all fastening means which secure the work of
art are unaccessible except for the entry of a key. The result is a
theft-proof and fall-proof pedestal for use wherever security as
well as an attractive display means are needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thefts of artistic renderings on display such as sculptures, as
well as damages to them caused by falling are prevented by
utilization of the lockable support defined herein. A hollow column
made of wood or other material with or without decorative designs,
surrounds an upright frame which is bolted and/or weighted to the
floor or other support structure so lateral and pivotal movement is
prohibited and danger of tipping and falling is eliminated. At the
top of the upright frame a receiving bar is provided to accept a
hook secured to a lock shaft turned by a key lock. The lock shaft
and key lock are located in a top cover of the lockable support,
which fits, as a lid, over the hollow column.
When an artistic rendering is positioned on the top surface of the
cover and held by fasteners, inserted under the cover and the cover
is then locked in place, any attempt, thereafter, to lift the
sculpture from its lockable support or pedestal is thwarted as all
tool operated fasteners are concealed. Theft is prohibited, yet,
when the proper key is used, the sculpture is easily removed for
storage, for placement on another like lockable support or pedestal
located elsewhere, or for display on any structure, often with the
top cover still being utilized.
DRAWINGS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lockable support or pedestal
for artistic renderings, such as the bird sculpture shown;
FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away and exploded perspective view of the
lockable support, indicating both a weighted base and a secured
base;
FIG. 3 is an underside perspective view of the locking components
of the top cover; and
FIG. 4 is a partially cut-away perspective view of the top cover in
locked position.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The theft-proof, fall-proof lockable support or pedestal 10 for
displaying artistic renderings such as a bird sculpture 20 is
illustrated in FIG. 1, as it appears in actual use. A hollow column
12 is the outside structure which is decorative yet conceals the
support and its securement means. The top cover 14, after an
artistic rendering 20 is secured from below, is locked to the
overall support 10 by operating a lock 16, often a barrel lock,
secured to the top cover 14. The lockable support or pedestal 10 is
located on a floor, table, or other principal supporting
structure.
In FIG. 2, portions are moved apart and/or cut-away to illustrate
the relationship of more components of the lockable support. A
four-sided central upright steel frame 30 is positioned at its base
40 to a principal support structure, not shown, such as a floor or
table top, either with threaded fasteners 42 inserted through
apertures 44, or alternately by utilizing one or more weights 43
lowered onto the respective base stabilizing arms 46 to hold the
lockable support 10 in place using sufficient weights 43 to prevent
its convenient carrying by a thief, while avoiding the necessity of
securing it with fasteners to a principal structure such as a floor
or table. Base arms 46 and top arms 48 are bent upwardly and
downwardly, respectively, to provide distal guides 32 which keep
the hollow column 12 centrally located about the upright frame 30.
A lock mechanism acceptor 50 such as a small rod secured to the
upright frame 30, accepts a hook-type locking mechanism 18
rotatably extending a hook 60 from the top cover 14. The transverse
rotatable shaft 58 upon which the hook 60 is securely mounted,
fastened or joined, rests and is confined in the notches 28 formed
at the top of the hollow column 12 and which are suplemented by the
cover 14 in retaining the ends of rotatable shaft 58.
The hollow column 12 may be made from wood with each side joined to
a corner post 52. Other materials such as plastic or metal may be
used, often in a unitized integral structure. The cover 14 with key
cylinder 16, and the hook type locking mechanism 18, receives a
sculpture 20 on its top surface 54, and using fasteners 64
manipulated from below, the sculpture 20 is secured in place as
shown in FIG. 3. A vertically downwardly extending flange 56
surrounds the top of the hollow column 12 and rotatably further
supports the transverse rod 58 with its hook 60 which rotate when a
fitted key is inserted and turned in the lock cylinder 16, a
portion of the lock being secured to the rod 58.
In FIG. 4 the top cover 14 is shown in place on the hollow column
12 and locked to the upright frame 30. The hook 60, mounted on the
rotatable rod 58, has been pivoted around the lock mechanism
acceptor 50, such as the small rod, which is mounted to the upright
frame 30, thereby locking the top cover 14 and sculpture 20
securely and making unaccessible all fasteners and/or weights used
in securing the art work and upright frame. Such securement
continues until the fitted key is reinserted into the lock cylinder
16 to oppositely rotate the rod 58 to disengage the hook 60
permitting removal of the cover 14 and sculpture 20 from the column
12 and upright frame 30.
SUMMARY OF THE ADVANTAGES
Utilization of the lockable support or pedestal 10 for artistic
renderings such as the illustrated bird sculpture, prevents their
theft as well as their breakage caused upon falling. The lockable
support may or may not be used in conjunction with other security
systems. The floor-secured or weighted upright frame may be placed
within different surrounding decorative hollow columns. Other types
of locks may be used to secure the cover, yet only one locking
location is needed in making all threaded fasteners and/or weights
inaccessible. When several of the lockable supports are used, for
example, in museums or art galleries, the artistic renderings
displayed thereon may be unlocked and moved from support to support
as arrangements are changed, and resecured to other supports no
matter where they are located. Other like height columns 12 and
upright frames 30 may be paired to provide shorter assemblies of
lockable supports 10 for table or shelf arranged displays and
longer assemblies for floor arranged displays. Other proportions of
cross-sectional areas are often specified as well as other
cross-sectional shapes. In regard to the latter, the hollow column
is often round, triangular, and/or hexagonal in cross section. At
all times the objective is to ultimately secure the artistic
rendering without detracting from its beauty often in fact
enhancing its beauty. In so doing the lockable support is arranged
for conveniently pre-assembling the components and securing them
with fasteners and/or weights, and thereafter, by operating one
locking mechanism securing the entire assembly. Such fasteners are
kept readily accessible until the hollow column is placed around
the centrally located upright frame, which is the principal load
carrying member of this overall assembly of the lockable support
for the artistic renderings.
* * * * *