U.S. patent number 3,554,384 [Application Number 04/730,723] was granted by the patent office on 1971-01-12 for display stand.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Carborundum Company. Invention is credited to Alphonse R. DeNatale.
United States Patent |
3,554,384 |
DeNatale |
January 12, 1971 |
DISPLAY STAND
Abstract
A boxlike display stand or unit comprising an outer shell and an
inner casing mounted within said shell. The shell is provided with
top and bottom end walls having bosses extending outwardly
therefrom, respectively, and support members extending between said
top and bottom end walls defining openings or ports in said shell.
The inner casing comprises vertical walls having apertures therein
adapted to receive the projecting bosses of adjacent units whereby
a plurality of such units may be joined in a display or to receive
articles for display.
Inventors: |
DeNatale; Alphonse R. (Wilson,
NY) |
Assignee: |
The Carborundum Company
(Niagara Falls, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
24936572 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/730,723 |
Filed: |
May 21, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/194;
220/23.6; 220/23.4; 47/39; D21/499 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
87/0276 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
87/00 (20060101); A47B 87/02 (20060101); A47f
005/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/111,198
;211/41,72,177 ;206/45.31,45.14 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Williamowsky; David J.
Assistant Examiner: Kundrat; Andrew V.
Claims
I claim:
1. A display unit comprising: an outer shell having spaced end
walls; a plurality of laterally spaced support members extending
between said spaced end walls; said laterally spaced support
members and said end walls defining openings in said shell; each of
said end walls having inner and outer surfaces; an inner casing
mounted within said outer shell and having vertical sidewalls, each
of said sidewalls extending between said spaced end walls of said
outer shell and being, at each end, spaced inwardly from the entire
outer circumferential edge portion of each of said end walls and
said support members; said vertical sidewalls defining the
periphery of said inner casing; and an aperture being provided in
at least one of said side walls for providing access into the
interior of said inner casing.
2. A display apparatus comprising: a plurality of display units as
defined in claim 1 and interlocking means carried by said units
securing adjacent units together.
3. A display unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said openings in
said shell are rectangular in shape.
4. A display unit as defined in claim 1 including a boss projecting
outwardly from the outer surface of an end wall and adapted to be
inserted in an aperture of an adjacent display unit.
5. A display unit comprising: an outer shell having spaced end
walls; a plurality of laterally spaced support members extending
between said spaced end walls; said laterally spaced support
members and said end walls defining openings in said shell; each of
said end walls having inner and outer surfaces; a boss projecting
outwardly from each of said outer surfaces; an inner casing mounted
within said outer shell and having vertical sidewalls extending
between said spaced end walls of said outer shell; and an aperture
provided in each of said side walls for providing access into the
interior of said inner casing, each of said apertures being adapted
to receive the boss of an adjacent display unit.
6. A display unit as defined in claim 5, wherein at least one of
said bosses has a plurality of peripheral lugs.
7. A display unit as defined in claim 5 wherein at least one of
said apertures has a plurality of grooves disposed about its
periphery.
8. A display apparatus comprising: a plurality of display units as
defined in claim 5 and interlocking means carried by said units
securing adjacent units together.
9. A display apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein each of said
bosses has a plurality of peripheral lugs and each of said
apertures has a plurality of peripheral grooves and wherein said
lugs of one of said units are interfitting with said grooves of an
adjacent unit.
10. A display apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein the outer
surface of an end wall of one display unit and the vertical wall of
the casing of an adjoining display unit define a space; and a
lighting fixture is mounted within said space.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus of the present invention provides a new and improved
portable, lightweight display stand or unit which is simple and
strong in construction, rugged and durable in use, and capable of a
wide variety of uses. The display unit comprises an outer shell
having upright support members extending between the top and bottom
end walls of said shell and defining with the end walls, openings
in said shell. An inner casing suitably rigidly mounted within the
shell, comprises vertical walls having apertures therein. The outer
surfaces of the top and bottom end walls are provided with
outwardly projecting bosses which are adapted to be inserted in the
apertures of the vertical casing walls of other display units to
form modular arrangements of vertically and/or horizontally
positioned units.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display stand or unit constructed
in accordance with the principles of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view, partially in section, of the display
unit shown in FIG 1;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the display unit shown in FIG.
1;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, illustrating
two display units joined together;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view illustrating the mounting
of an article in a display unit;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of display
units positioned in one exemplary arrangement; and
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of display
units positioned in another exemplary arrangement.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, it will be observed that a display stand
or unit, comprehensively designated 10, constructed in accordance
with the principles of this invention, comprises an outer, boxlike
shell 12 and an inner boxlike casing 14 suitably rigidly secured
within shell 12. The terms upper, lower, top, bottom, upwardly,
downwardly and the like, as used hereinafter, are applied only for
convenience of description with reference to the illustration of
FIG. 1 and should not be taken as limiting the scope of this
invention.
Outer shell 12 comprises four elongated upstanding angle support
members 16 that extend between a bottom end wall 20 and a top end
wall 22. The spaces between each pair of adjacent members 16 and
the end walls define substantially square openings or ports 18 in
the side of shell 12 and provide access to the interior of the
shell. Bottom end wall 20 has a flange or rim 24, preferably
integral with the wall 20 and the lower ends of members 16,
projecting upwardly around the peripheral edge of said wall 20.
Likewise, top end wall 22 has a flange or rim 26, preferably
integral with the wall 22 and the upper ends of members 16,
projecting downwardly around the peripheral edge of said wall 22.
The bottom and top end walls have outer surfaces 28 and 30 with
cylindrically shaped bosses 32 and 34, respectively, projecting
outwardly therefrom. Each of the bosses is provided with a
plurality of lugs 36 disposed about the periphery of the boss
adjacent the free end thereof for a purpose hereinafter explained.
It should be understood that only one of said outer surfaces may be
provided with a boss or that the bosses may be completely
eliminated, if desired.
Inner casing 14 comprises four vertical sidewalls 40, rigidly
connected at their lower and upper ends, respectively, to the inner
surfaces of bottom end wall 20 and top end wall 22 of shell 12 and
being, at each end, spaced inwardly from the entire outer
circumferential edge portion of the end walls 20 and 22,
respectively. Each of said sidewalls 40 has a circular aperture 42
to provide access into the interior of casing 14. These apertures
are also adapted to receive the bosses of other display units to
form a modular design of vertically or horizontally positioned
units, or a combination of both. A plurality of grooves 44 is
formed in each of the sidewalls 40 around the periphery of the
aperture 42 to accommodate the corresponding lugs of bosses of
other units.
In assembling two units together, the lugs 36 of a boss of one unit
are aligned with the grooves 44 in an aperture 42 of a second unit
and the boss is inserted into the aperture. The grooves 44 are
intentionally offset, i.e. a pair of diametrically opposed grooves
44 do not lie in a true vertical or horizontal plane so that when
the boss of one unit is mated with an aperture of a second unit,
the outer surfaces of the units are askew relative to each other
and the edges thereof do not lie in common planes. Rotation of one
unit relative to the other after assembly will align the units and
interlock them by means of the binding relationship of the lugs 36
acting on the inner surface of sidewall 40 (see FIG. 4). Thus, a
single display unit may be utilized or a plurality of units may be
abuttingly positioned in any desired or convenient arrangement as
illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. Although four lugs on each boss and
four grooves in each wall 40 are conveniently employed for most
purposes, it will be understood that any necessary or desired
number may be employed and that they may be arranged in any
suitable pattern or, when desired, may be omitted.
Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that a pair of display units
10 are disposed in a stacked or coupled relationship whereby the
outer surfaces of the angle members 16 and the outer surface 30 of
wall 22 bear against each other in a flush fit. The boss 34 of one
unit is shown inserted in an aperture 42 of a sidewall 40 of a
second unit with the lugs 36 of the boss bearing snugly against the
inner surface of said wall 40. The space between wall 22 and
interior wall 40 can, as shown, be utilized to accommodate a
circular lighting fixture 46 such as a fluorescent or neon tube,
suitably connected to an electrical power source (not shown), for
providing illumination of various colors in order to further
enhance the attractiveness of the display.
Although the display unit of this invention has general utility in
exhibiting a variety of products, it is particularly useful in
displaying chinaware or other products having circular shapes. For
example, as shown in FIG. 5, a dish 50 having an outer, dished
surface 52 may be placed in an aperture 42 and clamped in position
by means of one or more resilient clamps 54. Each clamp has an
angular portion 56, which engages the inner surface of the wall 40
and the inner portion of apertures 42, and terminates in a hook
portion 58, that engages the peripheral edge or rim of said dish.
It should be appreciated that the use of this invention is not
restricted to displaying chinaware or articles having circular
shapes, but may be used to exhibit a variety of articles of varied
shape and form. For this purpose the apertures 42 may be of any
desired size.
Although the bosses 32 and 34 and complementary apertures 42 of the
display units are shown and above described as being circular, the
principles of this invention envisage a variety of mating
configurations such as oval, elliptical, rectangular or any other
desired shape. Likewise, openings 18 may be of any desired shape
and appropriate size within the purview of this invention. It
should also be appreciated that any suitable coupling or
interlocking means may be employed to attach the display units
together and any suitable clamping or mounting means may be used in
lieu of resilient clamp 54 for securing articles of manufacture to
or within the display unit.
The units may be formed of a variety of materials or combination
thereof, such as transparent or opaque plastics, glass, wood, or
metal and maybe produced in any color or combination of colors
desired. For most purposes, the units are preferably formed of
suitable plastic and molded in sections. Thereafter the sections
are joined together by any suitable cement.
The present invention provides a novel, simple display stand or
unit which is lightweight, rugged and durable in use, and capable
of withstanding much abuse and handling. By the provision of a
casing disposed within the outer shell of the display unit, a
double wall is provided for materially increasing the strength and
rigidity of the display structure while effectively protecting the
wares contained therein. Moreover, the double walls provide for
increased flexibility of design applications. By the provision of
projecting bosses and mating apertures in the units, a number of
these units may be joined together to form various modular designs.
With adequately strong units relatively large structures such as
walls, room dividers, screens, etc. may be produced.
A preferred embodiment of this invention having been hereinabove
described and illustrated, it is to be understood that numerous
modifications thereof can be made without departing from the broad
spirit and scope of this invention as defined by the appended
claims. For instance, one or more of the vertical walls 40 may be
spaced differently from the sides of the shell 12, suitable
adjustment being made in the length of the bosses.
* * * * *