US1266899A - Display device. - Google Patents

Description

J. E. ALEXANDER. DISPLAY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I2. 191e.

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J. E.' ALEXANDER.

DISPLAY DEVICE.

APPLICATION F|LED1AN.\2, 191e.

Patented May 21,1918.

2 SHEETS-S-HEET 2.

.my m J which the JOHN E. ALEXANDER, OF COVINGTON, VIRGINIA.

DISPLAY DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented liliay 21, 1916.

Application filed January 12, 1918. Serial No. 71,740.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOHN E. ALEXANDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Covington, in the county of Alleghany, State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a display device.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a device by means of which articles. may be conveniently displayed in an attractive manner in a store or the like.

A further object of the invention resides in so constructing the device that a great number of articles may be conveniently `stored therein and yet will be movable to positions where they may be observed by prospective purchasers.

lVith these and other objects in view such as will appear as my description progresses my invention comprises the combination and arrangement of parts as setV forthin and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a device constructed in accordance with my invention, parts being broken away to more clearly disclose the mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a detail showing the manner in display plates are carried by the chains.

Fig. 41 is a detail showing the first position which the display plates assume during their reversing movement.

Fig. 5 is a detail showing the secondposition of the plates.

Fig. 6 is a detail showing the third and final position of the plates.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the manner in which the sprockets and trip arm are mounted on the casing.

In the embodiment of the invention dis closed in the drawings I have illustrated a casing 1 which includes a skeleton frame and a plurality of windows 2, the windows being arranged in the ends front and back so that the goods or articles within the casing may be readily observed. The casing is further provided with a `door 3 adjacent its upper end and in the front thereo-f.

In order that the articles or goods may be conveniently and attractively displayed I have provided the following mechanism:

Mounted-on stub shafts Ll: which extend from and are secured to each end of the casing is a pair of sprockets adjacent the top of the' casing, a pair of sprockets adjacent the bottom thereof and a sprocket arranged betweeij, the pairs of sprockets, the members of the former pair being indicated by the reference character 5, the members of the latter pair being indicated by the reference character 6 and the last mentioned sprocket being indicated by the reference character 7. A chain 8 passes over the sprockets 5, thence beneath the sprockets 6 and thence over the sprocket 7 at each end of the casing. These chains are actuated by sprockets 9, one sprocket being located at each end of the casing above the sprockets 5 and being mounted o-n a shaft 10 which extends transversely of the casing, through one side thereof and is provided with an operating handle 11. Thus by means of these sprockets 9 the chains 8 may be moved over the sprockets 5, 6 and 7. It is to be noted that the space between the sprockets 5, 6 and 7 is entirely clear, in fact the only obstruction which extends from end to end of the casing is the driving shaft 10.

Mounted on the cha-ins 8 and extending between the same are plates 12 which normally extend vertically. These plates are provided with ears 13 which have slots 14E therein. Lugs 15 which are formed on certain links of the chains extend into and are slidable in the slots 14, the plates being of less length than the distance between the chains. 'Ihus the plates may rotate on the lugs 15 or slide thereon. The center of gravity of the plates is on a line drawn parallel with the upper and lower edges thereof and extending through the middle points of the slots so that when the lugs 15 are located in the upper end of the slots, as they are normally, the portions of the plates below the lugs 15 will be of greater weight than the portions above the lugs and consequently the plates will hang vertically. But' when the lugs are shifted to the other ends of the slots the plates will be reversed and will also hang vertically at thisI time.

rI`hese plates are provided for the display llO lugs 15 asf pivots.

of various articles and it is myintentionto have the articles arranged on both sides of the plates.

In order that the positions of the plates may be reversed automatically so that when the plates pass the front of the casing at one time the articles on one side of the plates will be displayed but when they pass the front on their next revolution the articles on the opposite side will be displayed. To accomplish this reversal of the plates I have provided a trip arm 16 which is secured to one end of the casing by suitable fasteners 17 and extends into the path of movement of the plates 12. This arm 16 is provided with a weak leaf spring 18 which extends at right anglesto the arm and is adapted to enter slots 19 in the plates 12 so as to accomplish the reversal of the plates in a manner which will later be described. Before entering into a description of this movement of the plates it is to be noted tha't the trip arm 16 is located adjacent the shaft 1() but slightly in advance of the same with relation to the line of movement of the plates.

Now referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 in the order named it is to be noted that as each plate 12 moves upwardly with the chain 8 it will assume such a position as shown in Fig. 4 where the leaf spring 18 will extend to the uppermost slot. Upon the further movement of the plate the spring 18 will slide inthe slot, the plate at this time riding on the trip arm 16 and moving about the When these lugs reach a position between the sprockets 5 the spring 18 will have reached the end of the slot and having reached the end it will retard the movement of the plate, the chains continuing their movement, so that the lugs 15 will ride to the opposite ends of the slots 14. When these lugs reach the ends of the slots the further movement of the chains will cause the movement of the plate, and the connection between the chains and the plate flexed. Now

being positive, the plates will be disenfraged from the springs 18, the springs Iieing at this time the center of gravity of Vthe plate has been shifted from one side to the other of the lugs 15 so that the edge which was formerly the upper edge of the plate swings downwardly and becomes the lower edge consequently reversing the position of the plate. The final position of the plate is shown in Fig. 6 and the plate retains this position throughout its entire movement until it is engaged again by the spring 18 and the trip arm 1G. I have described but one trip arm and spring and the action of but one plate but it is to be understood that there is a trip arm on each end of the casing and that each plate reverses in the same manner as described.

Vhile I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of my invention it has merely been for the sake of convenience and I do not wish to be limited to the particula-r embodiment as it is obvious that numerouschanges may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claim.

What I claim is In a display device, the combination with a pair of spaced endless traveling chains, plates extending between and pivotally carried by said chains and having slots adjacent the ends thereof, and resilient trips engageable in and adapted to contact certain ends of said slots during the course of revolution of the chain whereby to cause a pivotal movement of said plates and reverse the positions thereof.

In testimony whereof, I afIiX my in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. ALEXANDER, IVitnesses H, H. PARKER, R. C. S'roKns.

signature Uopie of this patent may be obtained for ve' cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenti.

' Washington, D. C.

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