[1]Patentecl Feb. 19, 1935 UNITED STA.T'ES PATENT OFFICE 1,,99,2,09,5, DISPLAY CABINET George, F. Reed, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application Septeniber 22,1-9,32,, Serial No- 690,593 16 Claims. T@ j'.lis invent-ion relates to@ improvements in display cabinets of the type-includmg a display card f armed of transparent material mounted upon an endless conveyor ind adagted @ to be illuminated ;1, ditelng its pa-ssage in. back. of a window or display, opening. Parti@cula-rl.y, this, invo-ntion- relates to iinproverneiat& ul3on advertising and display devices as shown in the patent Gf George F. Reed, No@ 1,872,iu, 60."7, issued August 16.,,.19.32. 'I'he primn@ry o7oject of this invention is to provide an. endless- display &ign having floating sections hipg,-d together and secured. alor@g the margij:ial edges. to an endless, carrier chain. A fur-her ooject of this invention is to provide a res@,lient connection between the carrier chain and the flo,,.ting panels whereby breakage thereof will be nunimized. A s:Lill further object of this inventi(>n i-s to 20, provide h,'@r@ge bars for the transparent panel fi,araes. w-Wich are provided witli novel couneetioiis adapted to be: attached to the carrier chain f,)r the purpose of guiding the, panel fr@ames in a uniciue raanner. 25 A sti.'Ll. furLIier object. of this- irivention is to proe,nd the panels. adapted to allow relative, moveirier,t to, reduce the strain upon the transparent panel and the resultant breakage.DO A still further object of this invention. is to provide a casing formed of cast sides, top and bottom N@,all members which are preferably eellular. to reduce the w-eight and minimize the production cost. A still further object of this invention is to proIL, vid-,- a r-ovel reflector mounted. directly in back of the d-isplay wilidow formed in. the casing front v,7all wh-Leh is adapted to eliminate blind spots e,l-id giE.,,re when the advertising panels a-re viewed frozr.. the outside of the casmg. A s,'ill flirther object of this invention is to providl- in combinatio.,l with the reffector a piece of tra.nslucent niaterial, preferably glass, f'or the pi.iri-;ose of diffusing the light befbrd it is project43 c@-,i o,--ti.@ the transparent display panel therebygll,,ir@.- an even distribtition of light wbereby the par@el,-, n,-iay be, more clearly visi-ble. A still further object of this inventign is to pro@,7ide a, i9.oa-6ing support for the drive motor 50 on,-'t rediicti-On gearing which greatly reduces lvhe vi-b,.at4.on and adds tG the quiet operation of the d,-vic.a. A still further object of this inven@tion is to proviet@- rubbe@L cushioned feet upon the cabinet hav5,5 jii.- rfeans for receiving a bolt or the like where(Cl. 4.0-32) by the display casing. may be mounted on the trunk carri.er of a motor vehiel-& if desired. Other objects and advantag@es of the invention will beco -e p i , a;.parent d-uring- the course of the f olilowinu. descri-pti-on; f orm-i@ng a part of@ the- speci- 5 fication, taken with ihe drawings, wherein, Figiire 1, is a perspective view of the casing illustratir-g7 the silverled front wall, having an unsilvered. partiori for theprojection of the, display paitel@s; 16 l@ligur e 2 is a, rear elevational, view@ of a motor vehi-Cle sho,,ving the display cabinet secured, to the trur@k rack thereof-; Fi-gure 3 is: an. enlarged fragmentary view 7in section illustrating one of tlie supporting feet 15 provided with a cushion device and a fastening. screw@ for the p urpose of. attachina the casing to the@ adaptation- of the@ invention shown in. Mgure 2; F,- 'Lgure 4@ is a front: elevational view of the de- 20 irice etnbed-ying thi& invention ihustrating the frorit wall removed for the- purpose af showing the manner and axrangement of the endless carr..L.-rs, relattve. to the tran,.gparent display panels and panel@ carriers; 25 the side frame -rqembers. illustrat@mg. the bearings for supporting, the. endless carrier sprockets and shafts Figu.Te 6 is a. vertica-I crosssectional view of so 6ne of the side precast display members and further iilustrating the journal - bearings for the eiidlessi carrier shafts and sprocket, wheels; Figure@ 7 is a, top elevational view of a precast bgttom frame member which ispreferably cellular for. the- purpose of reducing we' ight and production costs; . Figure 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the same showing the centrifugal flanges for receiving fastening elements adapted to-secure the 40 side@ fra @m, e mem, bers in place; Figur-e 9 is a perspective vie-w, I of a casting particularl-y adapted for- supporting the reflector behind the window and also for supporting the opaque transparent material mounted in froiit of 45 the reflector and adapted to diffuse the light rays projected thereth-rgugh; Figu@ie 10 is a, vertical cross-sectional@ view of the display device illustrati-ng the drive arrange-7 ment and the manner in which the endless car- 50 riers are arranged relative ta the casing and light reflector; Mgure 11 is a fragmentary enlarged view of one of the display panels illustrating the manner m which the sam, e is carried by the endless carrier C)a vide fastening- @means- between the. panel caxrier . Figure. & is a, si-de elevational view of one of
[2]2 1,992,095 and further showing the connection between the panel carriers and endless chain carriers; Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in cross-section, illustrating one of the pintle rods provided for connecting adjoining panel carriers and showing the manner in which the rods are attaelied to the sprocket chains by means of the removable pins; Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view il10 lustrating in detail the connection betvieen the panel carrier frames and the endless carrier chains whereby the panel carrier franies will be floatingly mounted relative to the endless carriers; 13 Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-seetional view taken on lines 14-14 of Figure 13, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the resilient connection betwen the panel frames and the endless carriers; 2u Figure 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 15-15 of Figure 11 looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the floating connectio7-i between the resilient clips and the panel frame whereby a liniited movement may be provided to reduce tearing and breakage of the transparent panels; Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view taken on line 16-16 of Figure 11, looking in the direction of the arrov7s illustrating the loosely mounted rivets for connecting the transparent panels to the panel frame along the side margins thereof; Figure 17 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of one of the resilient connec30 tions between the panel supporting frame and the endless carrier chai-,i showing the manner in wwch the former may be distorted without bending or twisting the chain or tearing or breaking the panel frame carrier; 40 Figure 18 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view illustrating the resilient panel clip and the manner in which the same is secured to the endless carrier chain; and Figure 19 is a vertical cross-sectional view 45 taken on line 19-19 of Figure 11, looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the hinge connection bet ween the panel frame and illustrating in detail the manner in which the transparent panels are loosely held between the leaves of the 50 hinge so that the free ends of the display panel will have a loose connec,'ion therewith. In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustrating the invention and wherein like reference characters will be employed to designate 55 like parts - throughout the same, the reference character 5 will generally be employed to designate a casing having cellular frame side members having vertical 1,lprights 6 connected by transverse cast bars 7, 8, 9, 10 and ii. The c6llular side 60 frame members are connected at the top and bottom by cellular casting 12 as shown in Figure 7 having transverse cast bars 13 and 14 arranged in criss-cross fashion. The side frame memb s may be connected to the top and bottom memb 65 by suitable nuts and bolts so that tl,.e cast fe will project beyond the bottom member as el shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 10. After the side, top and bottom frame members have been assembled by means of fastenin,- de70 vices the sheet metal side plates 16 may be secured theketo and held in place by vertical ap-gle irons 17 as by means of nuts and bolts 18 and a cover 19 may be fitted upon the fraine work so that the side flanges 20 overlap the side walls 16 75 and vertical angle irons 17. Fastening mernbers such as screws 21 may be provided for holding the cover in place. Similarly, a bottom angle iron 22 mae be provided having a bottom flange which may be connected to the vertical angle irons 17 for the pur- r) pose of fiv-@ishing the structure and producing a completed cab@met. The front wall 23 is preferably formed of a piece of silvered glass presenting a mirror effect having a portion thereof as at 24 Lu-isilvered adapted to form a window behind lo which the display panels may be moved and illuminated for display: purposes. Certain sections or portions of the silvered panel 23 may be colored as at 25 to produce a modernistic effect and add to the attractiveness of the display sign. 15 The rear wall 26 is movably held in place at the top and bottom by means of being received between the 19-an.-e 20 of the cover 19 and the flange 27 of the top and bottom frame members 12. It will be noted that the angle irons 22 extending 20 around the bottom edge of the casing forms a seat for tl-ie lovier portion of the rear wall 26 and by lifting upwardly upon the rear wall 26 by means of a hand hold 28, the lower edge of the remo@,able rear wq@ll 26 may be freed from be- 25 tween the flange of the angle bar 22 and the flange 27 formed bn the lower frame piece 12 ' Louvers '9 may be provided in the rear wall for the purpose o-f ventilation and allowing the escape of heat produced by the electric motor and 30 illuminating means. The front wall 23 may be formed of glass and has its edges received in a similar fashion as the rear wall such as between the marginal flange 27 of the top and bottom members and angle iron 35 22. If desired, a packing strip 30 may be interposed between the f-faiige 20 of the tol@ waU 19 and the angle bar 22 so that shocks received by the casing will not fracture or break the glass front panel 23. 40 Each of the supporting feet 15 may be provided with rubber cushions 31 held in place by friction and should it be desired to connect the supporting feet 15 to a rigid support such as the trunk rack 33 of a motor vehicle 34 shown in Mgure 2 each 45 supporting foot 15 may be provided with a screw threaded bore 32 for receiving a fastening bolt 35. The cabinet or casing may be fastened securely to other forms of sudports such as tables or the li-ke by, employing the same fastening 50 means extending intb the screw threaded openings 32 formed in each of the supporting feet. Journalled at opposite ends of the transverse merp-ber 8 formed in the side fra-me member 6 in bearings 40 are rotary shafts 41 provided with 55 sprocket wheels 42 rigidly secured thereto. 'Me sprocket wheels 42 are airanged on opposite ends of the shafts 41 so that there will be provided a set of sprocket wheels 42 in the front portion of the asing and a set of sprocket wheels in the (;o rear portion of the casing adjacent the upper end tl-iereof. Jotirnalled in bearings 43 and 44 formed on one of the lower cross bars 10 of the pre-cast side fi:ame member 6 are rotary shafts 45 and 46 respectively. The bearing 44 is provided with an eccentric 47 for the purpose of adjusting the rotary shaft 46 to iner@ase or decrease the tension on the sprocket chain which will be hereinafter 70 more fully descr-ibed. In order to hold the eccentric 47 in an adjusted position, a set screw 48 is pro.vided for this purpose. Secured to opposite ends of the shafts 45 are sprocket wheels 49 while similarly arranged 75
[3]sprocket wheels 50 are secured rigidly, to. opposite ends of the shaft 46. Also journalled in bearings 51 formed in the side frame members 6 on the transverse bars 9 ,5 is a shaft 52@ having rigidly secured to opposite et-ids t@he,ieof sprocket wheel-s 53. In addition, the shaft 52 is provided viith. a sprocket wheel 54 held in pl@ce ir- a, rigid manner, adapted to: receive powel- frorr. a suitab@le rqotor. lo@ Passing over the sprocket wheels 42, 49, 50, and 53 is a pa@r of endless chains 55 after the fashion shown Li Figure 10 and said sprocket chains 55 inay be rotated by means of the sprocket wheel 54 upon the shaft 52 which is connected to a 15 sprocket wheel 56 secured on a shaft 57 which exte@-ids out of a reduction gearing box 68 by means of an endless: sprocket 59. An electric motor 60 may have its armature shaft 61 coniiected to the drive shaft 62@ of the r6duction gearing 58 2fj by means of a couple 63 and said eli@etric moto-r 60 and reduction gearing 58 may be carried by a .tioat-ing rr@otor support 64 resiliently carried by the side frame memb,-,rs 66 by means of biackets 65 having iiiwardly extending arms 66 so that one 3 end 67 of a coil spring 68 is connected ther6t6 and the opposite end of the coil s])rin.@ 69. is connected to the plate 6r motor suppcirt 64. In this manner, rotary rnotio-,i is imparted to the rotary shatt 52 in a sil-ent and even manner which causes the 30 sprocket chain 55 to travel,' 6ver the sprocket wheels 42, 49, 50 and 53 in a slow and even t-ravelling motion. The position and arrangement of the sprocket wheels and sprocket chains is very siniiiar to the form of the invention shown in the George F. Reed Patent No@ 1,872,607 issued August 16, 1932. An important feature of the invention resides in the mapner of arranging the display panels 70 which a;-re preferably formed of a flexible trans40 parenl matetial and which may have p inted or r otherwi-se secured thereon designs or advertisilig matter. It is intended to have a plurality of transdarent display panels 70 having longitudinal marginal strips 71 formed of a springy material 43 preferably Swedisl-i steel and rivets 72 may extend through the marginal strips 71 and marginal edges of the display panels and said rivets may be arranged in a staggered manner and may furtl-ier be formed smaller than the openings in 50 the lower edge of the display panels 70 and. the marginal strips 71, so that lateral play may be produced between the parts. The e:nd portions of the transparent display sheets 70 are preferably cut on a bias as at 73 to form fl@,ap-like end 55 portions adapted to be received between hinge leaves 74 which are U-,,,haped in ci,,oss-section a,nd are provided with enlarged pintle receiving loops 75. Rivets 76 may connect the hinge leaves 74 with the marginal strips 71. 60 Extending through the pintle receiving loops 75 of the hinge members is a rod 77 having an axial bore 78 formed in the opposite ends thereof --nd each of the bores 78 is adapted to Teceive the 65 reduced portion of a pin 79 formed on the end of one of the sprocket chain axles 80 as clearly shown in Figure 12 and interposed between the reduced portion 79 and the axle 80 is an annif ar boss 81 adapted to engage the inner edge of the ,io sprocket chain links 55 and simultaneOuslY the outer end of the pintle rod 77. It is obvio,us, that by separating the sprocket chains 55, that is moving the sarie av@ay from each other, that the pintle rods 77 may be withdrawn from the reduced pins 79 for the purpose of removing the panels 70 and their ene ' losing frames 71. It is to be, understood that t@he free ends of the panels 70 are supped in between the. hinge leaves 74 and are not fastened but are allowed to move relative thereto. The connection constitutes a means of 5 guiding the@ free ends of the transparent panels 70 rather than providi,.qg a securing means therefor. it wiR be noted that the transijarent panels 70 and f@ames 71 are secured to the endless car- 10, rie-r chains 55 in mu6h the same manner as the transparent panels shown in the George P. Reed Patent No. 1,872,607 and in addition to the gwde means or pirT-'Lle rods 77 for connecting the transparent panels to the endless chains, there is pro- 15. vided side resilient clips which connect the margi@nal metal strips 71 to the sprocket chain 55 in a manner which will allow relative movement betweer the strips and chain without tearing or otherwise breaking the transparent panels 70. 20 The resilient connection comprises at spaced intervals angle members 82 having studs 83 provided with reduced screw threaded portions 84@ The studs 83 are adapted to extend through eyelets 72 which connect the marginal s,trips 71 with 23. the transparent panels 70 and it will be noted, that the openings formed in the eyelets or rivets 72 are of a greater diameter than the over-all dimension of the boss or stud 83 so that a lirriited amount of play may b6 provided and whereby 0 the transparent panels will be floatingly carried by the sprocket chain 55. Threaded on the upper screw threaded reduced portion 84 of,the stud 83 is a nut 85 to secure the bracket 82 in place and said bracket 82 is provided with a portion 86 which extends in a parallel plane with the side strip 71. The free end of the pprallel portion 86 extends upwardly as at 87 and is, prov'ided with spaced openings for receiving elongated axles 89 which also form pins fbr the connecting j links of the sprocket chain 55 as clearly shown m Pigures 13, 14 and 15. . The free ends of the a-des 88 are connected by means of a link 89 which is substantially sirifiar to one of the side links of the sprocket chain 55 and said link is held in place by means of a chain clip 90. Interposed between the upturned end 87 bf the carrier bracket 82 and the connecting link 89 are coil springs 91 which encircle the elongated axles or studs 88. This construction allows the brackets 82 to 5u move relative to the sprocket chain 85 as shown in Mgure 7 ir. a distorted manner which is produced when certait of said panels 70 are passing over the sprocket wheel 42, 49, 50 and 53. Figure 18 shows an elongated ayle 88 having a reduced 53 rt@ n 83a which connects the links of the chain Po 10 55. When certaiii of 'uhe transparent panels 70 pass over the sprocket wheels as above mentioned, they become distorted and the bra-ket 60 82 will pull away from the chain 55 against the action of the coil- sprin-s 91. Direct pull may be overcome by @---eans @f the coil ,prings 91 -M addition to longittidiral slresses or strains which produce the disarrangemenlu- shown in Figure 17. Under these conditions, only oiie of the coil springs 91 will compress while the other will reiiair- in its normal position. In Figure 19 is shown in detail, one of the pintle rods 77 whi-.h is sho-,vn in cross section sO 70 that the transparent panels 70 may have the free ends secured therebetv7een as at 70a. It is intended to form the hinge leaves 74 with pintle receiving looi)s 75 arranged and spaced alternately at the top and bottom so that th@- entire 7;i
[4]4 1,992,096 frame may be removed from the carrier chain 55 and another frame substituted carrying different advertising matter without altering the frame or the adjacent hinge leaves 74 along with 5 the pintle receiving loops 75. Su-pported by the side fra,-ne members 6 and positioned directly in back of the unsilvered portion lt4 of the mirror 23 is a rectangular frame -nember 93 clearly shown in Figure 9 in per10 spec'b-ive. The frame member 93 is provided with oppositely directed arms 94 having openings 95 for receiving fastening elements such as sere-ws or @uhe like. The rectangular frame 93 is adapted to de@qne a window so that the transparent dis]@5 play panels may be clearly visible from the exterior of the casing. Formed integral ,vith the oppositely extending arins 94 of the rectangular frair.e 93 and extending hi,,vardly therefrom are angle brackets 96 having offset portions 97 pro20 vided witli apertures 98 whereby a mirror or refle(.-;tor 99 may be secured to the offset portions 97 by means of machine screws 100 extending tiierethrough and passirg through the openings 98. The reflector 99 is provided with longitudi25 nal an.-ular surfaces 101, 102, 103 and 104 '@or the purpose 6f directing the rays of light emitted from electric light bulbs 105 positioned as sho-e@n in Figure 10 between the respective angular walls 102, 103 ard 101 and 104. The light emitted ,30 from the bulbs 105 is projected through on opaque pa,iiel 106 where the light is diffused and illuminates one of the transparent panels 70 Nvhi@-h will be positioned in back of the rectangwar frame or window 93 as whe--i being carried by the 15 carrier chain 55. The opaque panel 106 may be fastened in place upon the of.L'set portion 97 of the rectangular frame 93, being mounted betivee-@i t]@,e offset portion 97 and the reflector 99 so that the scre-vis 100 will securely clamp the 40 opaque material 106 therebetween. At opposite 'des of the rectnngular frame 93 there may bO provided an angle strap 103 having its free ends 109 secu.,:ely retained in place by the scre,@lis 100. The angle straps 108 at opposite ends of the re4 flector 99 may retain i-he electric lamp bulbs 105 in (beir spaced positions and at the s@me titne @oy form a brace for the reflector, 99. One of the side frame members 6 is provided with a cast portion 110 including a downwardly extending portion III projectingdownwardly from the journal 51 and branching into arms 112 ivh4ch connect to the transverse frame bar 10 thereby forriing a pocket 113 at oppbsite ends of which are cut outs 114. Received within the opening 113 is an electric switch 115 of a double type having a set of contacts 116 to which may be coniiected line wires 117 for feedin.- current to the electric bulbs 105. The bulbs may be co--inected in series as by means of a, lead line t;o 118. The switch casing 115 is also provided with contacts 11,9 havin.- lead lines 120 which maY connect to the electric motor 60. Power is supplied through the s,@vitch housing 115 by means of a cable 121 adapted to be connected to a suitable source of current capable of illuminating the bulbs 105 and operating the motor 60. The switch casing 115 partially extends through an op,-niiig 122 formed in one of the side walls 116 and said sivitch casing 115 is provided with oper4( ating buttons 123 whereby the motor or electric bulbs may be operated selectively. For-,,-Yled Li one of the side walls 16 is an opening adjacent the electric bulb 105 which is adapted to be closed by a cover plate 124 held in place 7,5 by suitable machino screws 125. By removing the cover plate 124, the electric bulbs 105 may be easily reached for the purpose of repair or if desired, the reflector 99 may be wiped and cleaned as.well as th6 opaque glass or plate 106. It is to be understood, that various changes a in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the sub-joined claims, ap-d that the form herewith shown and described is, to be taken as the preferred embodi- 10 raent of the same. I
