U.S. patent number 3,659,355 [Application Number 05/086,226] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-02 for wall mounted combination chalkboard, projector screen and information display apparatus.
Invention is credited to Adelard L. Aubin, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,659,355 |
Aubin, Jr. |
May 2, 1972 |
WALL MOUNTED COMBINATION CHALKBOARD, PROJECTOR SCREEN AND
INFORMATION DISPLAY APPARATUS
Abstract
An upright wall supported receptacle having a compound back wall
including a chalkboard, an oppositely disposed open front side, a
projector screen supported on the receptacle and being selectively
movable into and out of confronting juxtaposition relative to the
chalkboard, and wing extensions comprising tack boards pivotally
connected on the receptacle for swinging movement toward one
another to close the open side of the receptacle.
Inventors: |
Aubin, Jr.; Adelard L. (South
Bellingham, MA) |
Family
ID: |
22197123 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/086,226 |
Filed: |
November 2, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
434/408;
312/230 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B43L
1/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B43L
1/00 (20060101); B43L 1/06 (20060101); B43l () |
Field of
Search: |
;35/60,62,63,64,65,67
;312/210,225,227,230,242 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
weber Costello Quality Products Catalog Rec'd Feb. 11, 1969, page
14, "Hinged Panels" pertinent.
|
Primary Examiner: Skogquist; Harland S.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In combination, a compartmentalized chalkboard, tack board and
projector screen unit, said unit comprising:
a normally upright hollow continuous rectangular frame having open
front and back sides, said frame including oppositely disposed
vertically spaced confronting and substantially parallel top and
bottom frame members, and oppositely disposed laterally spaced
confronting and substantially parallel side frame members;
first closure means extending between and spanning said frame
members to close said back side of said frame, said first closure
means at least in part including a chalkboard confronting said open
front side of said frame;
a front wall connected to said top wall and depending therefrom to
span between the upper ends of said side frame members, said front
wall being disposed in spaced confronting relationship relative to
an upper portion of said first closure means and cooperating
therewith and with said top wall to define a first downwardly
opening compartment;
projector screen means supported on said side walls and disposed in
said first compartment, said projector screen means having a
leading end portion selectively extendible downwardly and outwardly
from said first compartment for juxtaposition relative to said
chalkboard;
second closure means comprising a plurality of wing elements;
means pivotally connecting one of said wing elements on,
respectively, one of said side frame members for pivotal movement
in one direction towards one another to close across said open side
of said frame, and for pivotal movement in an opposite direction to
open away from said open side of said frame;
a tack board mounted and supported on one side of, respectively,
each of said wing elements, said tack boards being concealed when
said wing elements are pivoted to close across said open side of
said frame;
means in said frame dividing the lower end of said unit into a
plurality of compartments opening into said open side of said
frame, said last named means comprising an elongated normally
horizontal platform extending in vertically spaced relation
relative to said bottom wall to define a second compartment
communicating with said first compartment, said platform having its
opposed ends fixedly connected, respectively, on said side frame
members;
a divider wall interposed between said platform and said bottom
frame member forming therewith and with confronting portions of
said side frame members a plurality of compartments opening into
said front side of said unit and disposed in end-to-end
relationship; and
closure means for said open ends of said plurality of
compartments.
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein:
said closure means for said plurality of compartments comprises,
respectively, a drawer disposed in each of said plurality of
compartments and slidably supported therein on said bottom frame
member.
3. The combination of claim 2 wherein:
said projector screen means comprises an elongated shaft, a
cylindrical roller mounted on said shaft intermediate the ends
thereof, and a flexible screen normally wound on said cylindrical
roller and having a leading end;
bracket means on said side frame members and disposed in said first
compartment for securing the opposed ends of said shaft therein
between said first closure means and said front wall to conceal
said projector means; and
handle means connected with said screen for withdrawing said screen
from its said cylindrical roller and through the open lower end of
said first compartment for extension into said second compartment
and into juxtaposed position transversely across said
chalkboard.
4. The combination of claim 3 wherein:
each of said wing elements includes a support wall, said tack
boards being, respectively, superimposed against one side of said
support wall;
said wing elements each including a peripheral frame circumscribing
the peripheral edges of said support wall and said tack board;
and
an open masking and locking frame secured on said peripheral frame
and engaging over the peripheral marginal edges of each of said
tack boards.
5. The combination of claim 1 wherein:
each of said wing elements is formed with a recess in a side
thereof concealed when said wing elements are closed across said
open side of said unit; and
said tack board for each wing is fitted and secured in,
respectively, one of said recesses.
6. The combination of claim 1 wherein:
said front wall is formed with an outwardly opening recess; and a
tack board is fitted and secured in said recess.
7. The combination of claim 1 wherein:
said closure means for said open ends of said plurality of
compartments each comprises a normally upright wall extending
across, respectively, each of said open ends when in their
respective closed positions;
means pivotally connecting each of said last named walls on said
bottom wall of said unit for pivotal movement downwardly and away
therefrom to an open position; and
means releasably securing said last named walls in their respective
closed positions.
8. The combination of claim 1 wherein:
said closure means for said open ends of said plurality of
compartments comprises a normally upright wall extending across,
respectively, each of said open ends of said compartments when in
their respective closed position:
means pivotally connecting each of said last named walls on said
bottom wall of said unit for pivotal movement downwardly and away
therefrom to an open position; and
means releasably securing said last named walls in their respective
closed positions, said last named means comprising magnet
means.
9. The combination of claim 1 wherein:
said wing elements are each formed with a recess in a side thereof
exposed when said wing elements are in their closed positions;
and
a finish panel is fitted and secured, respectively, in each
recess.
10. The combination of claim 1 wherein:
each of said wing elements is formed with a recess in a side
thereof concealed when said wing elements are closed across said
open side of said unit;
said tack board for each wing is fitted and secured in,
respectively, one of said recesses;
said front wall is formed with an outwardly opening recess; and a
tack board is fitted and secured in said last named recess.
11. The combination of claim 10 wherein:
said closure means for said open end of said plurality of
compartments comprises a normally upright wall extending across,
respectively, each of said open ends of said compartments when said
closure means are in their respective closed positions;
means pivotally connecting each of said last named means on said
bottom wall of said unit for pivotal movement downwardly and away
therefrom to an open position;
means for limiting said downward movement of said last named
walls;
means releasably securing said last named walls in their respective
closed positions, said last named means comprising magnet
means;
said wing elements are each formed with a recess in an exposed side
thereof when said wing elements are in their respective closed
positions; and
a finish panel is fitted and secured, respectively, in each of said
last named recesses.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to visual information disseminating
apparatus designed for educational or amusement purposes, the
apparatus including a receptacle having a permanently installed
back wall on which is supported and secured an element having a
chalk erasable surface, a photographic screen which constitutes a
fixture of the apparatus and which is movable, selectively,
transversely across the element, wing means for supporting messages
of temporary import, and wherein means is provided to hingedly
support the wing means whereby the wing means may be swung relative
to one another to effect closure of the receptacle with complete
disregard as to the visual presence or absence of the screen and
without disturbing the messages.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Blackboards or chalkboards and picture projecting screens are, of
course, old and well known elements widely used in the fields of
education and amusement, and many diverse fields, which need no
recounting at this time. Chalkboards in combination with projection
screens are old in the art as is evidenced by the U.S. grant of
Letters Patent to Hurley, No. 2,528,311. For the most part,
combinations of the type disclosed in the aforementioned patent are
of the portable type, that is, the combinations are wheel mounted
for movement over a floor or other suitable supporting surface.
Such combinations generally require large storage space and
generally entail the provision of some means for changing the
relative positions of the screen with respect to the chalkboard in
order to provide an unobstructed view thereof. Such mechanisms, of
course, contribute to high costs of manufacture, and because of the
inherent construction of such a combination, users of such
apparatus find that neither the chalkboard nor the screen
satisfactorily performs its intended function.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 2,867,045 to Millgate, a somewhat analogous
type of apparatus is disclosed, but again, it should be noted that
the invention relates to a "transportable display board." This
device is portable in the sense that the same may be hand carried,
and is pertinent only to the extent that it does show the old
combination of a display board across which may be drawn a
projection screen, and wing means for connection on the sides of
the device for temporarily supporting data.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one of the primary objects of this invention to provide a
wall supported unit in the nature of a compartmentalized receptacle
and which includes a chalkboard, a permanently installed picture
projection screen, tack board means for supporting information of
but temporary importance, and drawer or closable compartment means
for receiving and storing chalk, erasers, and other objects, the
unit being so constructed and assembled as to eliminate the
necessity of assembling and dismantling of portable movie screens
and chalkboards, wherein the inventive concept permits quick
changes during presentations, conserves space, and which has
aesthetic value.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a unit
of the type referred to supra, the unit being non-complex in
construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture and maintain,
and which is rugged and durable in use.
Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention
will become more evident from a consideration of the following
specification when read in light of the annexed drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a wall supported combination
chalkboard, projector screen, and information display apparatus
constructed in accordance with this invention, FIG. 1 showing the
apparatus with the projector screen in dotted lines and partially
extended across the chalkboard and with the information display
wing closure tack boards comprising closure members for the unit
moved to a preselected open position;
FIG. 2 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view, FIG. 2 being
taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 2--2 of FIG. 1,
looking in the direction of the arrows, this view illustrating the
position of one of the closure wings when moved to its closed
position across the open front side of the unit;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detail top plan view showing the apparatus
of this invention in its wall mounted position, FIG. 3 illustrating
in full lines one of the wing closure members pivoted to its fully
opened position, and in phantom lines, the position of the wing
closure member in its operative closed position;
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of the
apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention, FIG. 4
illustrating the unit with the display wing closure tack boards
moved to their normally closed position;
FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG.
4;
FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG.
4, FIG. 6 illustrating the display wing closure tack boards as
having been moved to their maximum open position, and with one of
the closure members for the compartments moved to its open
position;
FIG. 7 is a detail cross-sectional view, FIG. 7 being taken
substantially on the line 7--7 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction
of the arrows; and
FIG. 8 is a detail transverse cross-sectional view, FIG. 8 being
taken on the horizontal plane of line 8--8 of FIG. 6, looking in
the direction of the arrows.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now more specifically to the drawing, reference numeral
10 designates, in general, the unit constructed in accordance with
the teachings of one embodiment of this invention.
The basic unit of the apparatus comprises a normally upright
substantially hollow rectangular compartmentalized receptacle 12
which includes a substantially rectangular back wall 14, a
continuous peripheral flange or frame constructed of the opposed
pairs of substantially parallel and confronting top and bottom
walls 16, 18 and the opposed pairs of substantially parallel and
confronting side walls 20, 22. Thus it is seen that the structure
as thus far described defines a first major compartment 24. The
compartment 24 is essentially rectangular in configuration and has
an open front side oppositely disposed with respect to the back
wall 14.
A front wall 26 depends from the top wall 16 in laterally spaced,
parallel and confronting relationship relative to the back wall 14,
the front wall 26 extending between and having its opposed ends
fixedly secured to, respectively, the side walls 20, 22. The front
wall 26 taken together with the top wall 16 and that portion of the
back wall 14 disposed in confronting relationship relative to the
front wall 26 define a downwardly opening second compartment 28.
The function of this compartment 28 will be described infra.
At 30 is designated a normally horizontal substantially rectangular
elongated platform which extends parallel to the top and bottom
walls 16, 18, respectively, and in vertically spaced relationship
relative thereto. As is seen in FIG. 1 of the drawing, the platform
30 extends between and has its respective ends fixedly connected to
the side walls 20, 22. As is seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the platform 30
is disposed in closer spaced juxtaposition relative to the bottom
wall 18 than it is with respect to the top wall 16, and centrally
positioned between the adjacent pairs of ends of the bottom wall 18
and platform 30 is interposed a normally upright substantially
rectangular divider wall 32. There is thus formed a third
compartment 34 (see FIG. 1) and a fourth compartment 36 adjacent
the lower end of the unit 10, with the compartments 34, 36 being
disposed in end-to-end relationship relative to one another and
being of substantially hollow rectangular configuration, each of
the compartments opening in a direction away from the back wall
14.
Each of the compartments 34, 36 receives, respectively, one of a
pair of identically constructed drawers here bearing the general
reference numeral 38. Each drawer includes an elongated
substantially rectangular bottom wall 40 from the longitudinally
extending marginal edge of which upwardly projects a back wall 42.
At the opposed longitudinally extending marginal edge of the bottom
wall 40 upwardly projects an elongated substantially rectangular
front wall 44 which extends in laterally spaced and confronting
relationship relative to the back wall 42. Each of the drawers 38
is provided with a pair of opposed end closure walls 46 (see FIG.
1) and 48 (see FIG. 2), these end closure walls being of
rectangular configuration and being disposed substantially parallel
with respect to one another and in confronting relationship. As is
seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the front walls 44 is formed with a
finger receiving opening 50 to enable the user to move the drawers
38 inwardly and outwardly of the unit and transversely across the
bottom wall 18 on which the drawers are supported.
Reference numeral 52 denotes an elongated substantially rectangular
and normally upright chalkboard which may be adhesively or
otherwise conventionally secured to the back wall 14, and as is
seen in the drawing, the chalkboard 52 extends across the exposed
inner surface area which is limned by the top wall 16, the platform
30 and the opposed side walls 20, 22 extending therebetween.
Reference numerals 54 each denote one of a pair of conventional
hanger or support brackets which are fixedly connected to each of
the confronting sides of the side walls 20, 22, respectively,
adjacent their upper ends. As is seen in FIG. 2, each of the hanger
brackets 54 is disposed within the compartment 28 and is concealed
from view by the front wall 26. Each of the brackets 54 receives,
respectively, one of the ends of an elongated shaft 56 forming
support means for the usual elongated substantially cylindrical
spring loaded roller 58 on which is normally wound a projector
screen 60. The leading edge of the screen 60 is provided with the
conventional handle element 61 to facilitate the extension and
retraction thereof. As is seen in the drawing, the screen 60, when
in its rolled or retracted position, is disposed within the
compartment 28 and is also concealed from view by the front wall
26.
Reference numerals 62 each denote, respectively, one of a pair of
wing closure tack board members of identical size and construction.
Each of the closure members includes a substantially rectangular
normally upright support wall 64 against one side of which is
superimposed and fixedly secured (by conventional means, not shown)
a substantially rectangular tack board 66. The tack board 66 may be
formed of any of the usual materials serving such functions, the
composition of such materials forming no part of the instant
invention.
A peripheral frame, here designated by reference numeral 68,
surrounds the peripheral edges of the support wall 64 and of the
tack board 66. The frame 68 includes top and bottom frame members
70, 72, respectively, and the side frame members 74, 76,
respectively.
Reference numeral 78 generally designates an open substantially
rectangular masking and lock frame which is superimposed against
the exposed side of the tack board member 62 adjacent the
peripheral edge thereof. As is seen in the drawing, the lock frame
78 includes a top and bottom frame member 80, 82, respectively, and
the opposed side frame members 84, 86, respectively. Conventional
hinge means 88 connect the side walls 20 and 22, respectively, with
one of the side frame members 76. It should be here mentioned that
the horizontal length of each of the wing members 62 is
substantially one-half the horizontal length of the receptacle 12
whereby when the wing members 62 are swung from their open position
shown in FIG. 1 and towards one another, each of the masking and
lock frames 78 will fit flush against the outer side of the front
wall 26 and the outer edge of the bottom wall 18.
Reference numeral 90 denotes a building wall having an outer
surface 92. The described unit or apparatus 10 may be secured on
the outer surface 92 by conventional means (not shown) or
preferably, an opening 94 is formed in the wall 90 to receive the
receptacle 12 therein. As is seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the receptacle
12 is only partially inserted within the opening 94, the front
portion thereof projecting beyond the surface 92 a distance
sufficient to permit the wing members 62 to move from their dotted
line position shown in FIG. 3 to their fully open full line
position shown in this Figure. In their open positions, the back of
the walls 64 of the wing members 62 will be flush or superimposed
against the outer surface 92 of the wall 90. Obviously, the wing
members 62 may be pivoted on their hinge means 88 to any position
intermediate their fully open full line position of FIG. 3 and
their fully closed position shown in dotted lines in this
Figure.
Any conventional means may be used to fixedly connect the
receptacle 12 in the opening 94, and any means, conventional in the
arts, may be utilized in connecting the back wall 14, the top and
bottom walls 16, 18, and the side walls 20, 22 in their positions
shown and described. Such means may be also employed in effecting
the assembly of the platform 30 with the side walls 20, 22 and for
connecting the divider wall 32 with the platform 30 and the back
wall 14 and bottom wall 18. In a similar manner, it will be
understood that conventional means will be used in the assembly of
the support wall 64, the tack board 66, the peripheral frame 68 and
the masking and locking frame 78. To illustrate such conventional
mechanical and adhesive connecting means would belabor the above
description of the unit or apparatus 10 with the inclusions of
unnecessary details, and would only lend confusion to a reading of
the drawing and, consequently, such means being old and well known,
have been omitted from this disclosure.
It is preferred that the component elements or apparatus 10 be
formed of solid hardwood for such materials readily take a variety
of wood finishes and solid colors. The tack boards 66 and the
chalkboards 52 may be chosen from a wide variety of materials
available on the open market, and may be of the same or differing
colors. These features of the unit or apparatus 10 are optional
with the user, but it should be here mentioned that all exposed
surfaces of the unit or apparatus 10 should be preferably finished
in order to achieve an aesthetic effect. The support wall 64 may be
formed of any suitable single plastic having a preferred finish and
color.
The second preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in
FIGS. 4 to 8, inclusive. The unit constructed in accordance with
this second embodiment is here indicated by reference numeral
100.
As before, the basic unit of the apparatus comprises a normally
upright substantially hollow rectangular compartmentalized
receptacle 112 which includes a continuous peripheral flange or
frame constructed of the opposed pairs of vertically spaced
substantially parallel and confronting top and bottom walls 114,
116, and the opposed pairs of substantially parallel laterally
spaced and normally upright confronting side walls 118, 120. The
top and bottom walls 114, 116 and the side walls 118, 120 are
fixedly connected at their respective ends by a conventional means
(not shown) and the back edge of each of these walls is rabbeted to
form a continuous groove 122 and continuous shoulder 124. A
substantially rectangular chalkboard 126 is telescopically inserted
in the groove 122 with the front face thereof making substantially
flush engagement against the continuous shoulder 124. Any
conventional mechanical or friction fastening means may be used to
secure together the adjacent confronting and engaging portions of
the shoulder 124 and chalkboard 126. The structure as thus far
described defines a first major compartment 128. The compartment
128 is essentially rectangular in configuration and has an open
front side confronting the chalkboard 126.
A front wall 130 depends from the top wall 114 in laterally spaced,
parallel and confronting relationship relative to the chalkboard
126. The front wall 130 extends between and has its opposed ends
fixedly secured to, respectively, side walls 118, 120. The front
wall 130 taken together with the top wall 114 and that portion of
the chalkboard 126 disposed in confronting relationship relative to
the front wall 130 define a downwardly open second compartment 132
(see FIG. 7), the function of which will be described below. The
front side of the front wall 130 is provided with a rabbet which
extends from end-to-end thereof and outwardly from its upper edge
to terminate at a point spaced above the lower edge of the front
wall 130, this rabbet receiving a substantially rectangular strip
of tack board material 134. Any means conventional in the art may
be utilized to fixedly secure the tack board 134 within its
rabbet.
Reference numeral 136 denotes a normally horizontal substantially
rectangular elongated platform that extends parallel to the top and
bottom walls 114, 116, respectively, and in a vertically spaced
relationship relative thereto. As is seen in FIG. 6 of the
drawings, the platform 136 extends between and has its respective
ends fixedly connected to the side walls 118, 120. The chalkboard
126 may be also fixedly connected to the platform 136 by mechanical
friction fasteners of a conventional type, or by any conventional
adhesive, if desired.
As is clear from FIG. 6, the platform 136 is disposed in closer
spaced juxtaposition relative to the bottom wall 116 than it is
with respect to the top wall 114 and centrally positioned between
the pairs of ends of the bottom wall 116 and the platform 136 is
interposed a normally upright substantially rectangular divider
wall 138. There is thus formed a third compartment 140 and a fourth
compartment 142 adjacent the lower end of the unit 100, with the
third and fourth compartments being disposed in end-to-end
relationship relative to one another and being of substantially
hollow rectangular configuration, with each of the compartments
opening in a direction away from the chalkboard 126 which, of
course, completely closes the back ends of the third and fourth
compartments.
The forward or front open end of each of the compartments 140, 142
is provided with a horizontally elongated substantially rectangular
front closure wall 144, 146, respectively, the lower end of the
front closure walls 144, 146 being hingedly connected to the
forward or front edge of the bottom wall 116 as is indicated by
reference numeral 148. The hinge means 148 are conventional in
construction and are of that type which is concealed when the front
closure walls 144, 146 are in their normally upright closed
positions.
Remotely disposed annular eye screws 150 are fixedly connected to
the side walls 118, 120 and are disposed in the compartments 140,
142. The screws 150 each serve to anchor one end of a flexible link
chain 152 having their upper respective ends anchored in similar
eye screws 154 anchored in, respectively, one of the front closure
walls 144, 146. The length of each of the chains 152 is such that
the front closure walls 144, 146 are limited in their pivotal
movement through an arc of substantially 90.degree.. In this
connection, reference is made to FIG. 7 of the drawings wherein the
front closure wall 144 is shown in its operative closed position
while the front closure wall 146 has been pivoted,
counterclockwise, through its arc of 90.degree. to become
substantially horizontal and parallel to but spaced below the
bottom wall 116.
Means is provided for releasably securing the front closure walls
in their respective closed positions, such means comprising a pair
of first bar magnets 156 which are set into the front edge of the
platform 136 with the outer end of one pole thereof being disposed
in the plane of this edge. Second bar magnets 158 are set into,
respectively, each of the closure walls 144, 146 adjacent their
normally upper respective ends with the outer end of reverse
polarity normally being flush with the plane of the inner side of
each of the closure walls 144, 146. The magnets 156 are disposed in
the arcuate path of movement of the magnets 158 whereby the force
of magnetic attraction will hold the walls 144, 146 in their
normally upright and closed positions when the first and second
magnets are brought into juxtaposition relative to one another.
Reference numerals 160 each denote one of a pair of conventional
hanger or support brackets which are fixedly connected to each of
the confronting sides of the side walls 118, 120, respectively,
adjacent their upper ends. As is seen in FIG. 7, each of the hanger
brackets 160 is disposed within the compartment 132 and is
concealed from view by the front wall 130. Each of the brackets 160
receives, respectively, one of the ends of an elongated shaft 162
forming support means for the usual elongated substantially
cylindrical spring loaded roller 164 on which is normally wound a
projector screen 166. The leading edge of the screen 166 is
provided with the conventional handle element 168 to facilitate the
extension and retraction thereof. As is seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the
screen 166, when in its rolled or retracted position, is disposed
within the compartment 132 and is concealed from view by the front
wall 26. When the screen is in its operative position, the handle
means 168 is drawn downwardly to move the screen 166 to a position
across the front side of the chalkboard 126, all as is suggested in
the dotted line showing in FIG. 6.
Reference numerals 170 each denote, respectively, one of a pair of
wing closure tack board members of identical size and construction.
Each of the closure members includes a substantially rectangular
normally upright support wall 172 in the front side of which is
provided a vertically elongated substantially rectangular recess
174. The recess 174 telescopically receives a complementary
configured finishing panel 176 which may be made of any suitable
material although a vinyl plastic material is preferred. By way of
definition, the front side of each of the wing elements 170 is here
referring to that side thereof which is exposed to view when the
wing elements are in their closed positions of FIG. 4.
In a like manner, a vertically elongated recess 178 is formed in
the opposite or back side of each of the wing elements 170, and in
each of these recesses is telescoped, respectively, tack boards 180
formed of suitable and conventional materials.
The recesses 174, 178 are each peripherally defined by an opposed
pair of top and bottom frame members 182, 184, and an opposed pair
of side frame members 186, 188, respectively. These members
cooperate to form a continuous peripheral frame of which one of the
side frame members 188 is hingedly connected by conventional hinge
means 190 to the side frame member 118 and the side frame member
188 of the other wing 170 is similarly connected by hinge means 190
to the side frame member 120. Again, the hinge means 190 is of the
conventional type and which, when the wing elements 170 are moved
to their closed position shown in FIG. 4, is concealed from
view.
Any suitable and conventional releasable locking means may be
provided to hold the wing elements 170 in their closed position as
is illustrated in FIG. 4. Here it is preferred to insert a bar
magnet 194 in each, respectively, top frame member 182 adjacent to
but spaced inwardly from the side frame member 186 of each of the
wing elements 170. The bar magnets 194 are adapted to cooperate
with similar bar magnets 196 set into the front edge of the top
wall 116 in the swinging path of movement of the bar magnets 194.
It will be understood, of course, that the adjacent poles of the
magnets 194, 196 are of opposite polarity and, consequently, the
wing elements 170 will be held in their closed operative positions
under the force of magnetic attraction.
This second preferred embodiment of this invention is, obviously,
less expensive to manufacture than the embodiment first described
above, and by virtue of this construction the user has the
advantage of additional tack board space as at the tack board 134
carried on the front wall 130. The concealed hinges 190 contribute
to the aesthetic value of the unit, and by employing the hingedly
connected front wall closure members 144, 146, the usable space of
the third and fourth compartments 140, 142, respectively, has been
increased, and this construction affords the user additional
platform display area since the front wall closure members 144,
146, when pivoted to their open position, permit the user to
display additional objects thereon as well as on the bottom wall
116. It might here be pointed out that the width of the front wall
closure members 144, 146 is such that the free longitudinally
extending edges thereof project slightly above the platform 136 to
provide stop or abutment means to prevent display objects from
sliding or rolling from the platform 136 when the front closure
walls are in their operative upright positions.
The unit 100 may be set into a suitable opening formed in a room
wall, all in the manner described above in connection with the
first embodiment of this invention, or, optionally, the unit may be
provided with a plurality of conventional brackets 196 connected to
the underside of the top wall 114 and which are adapted for
connection with conventional support means projecting laterally
from a vertical wall.
Having described and illustrated two preferred embodiments of this
invention in detail, it will be understood that the same are
offered merely by way of example, and that this invention is to be
limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *