AU700125B2

AU700125B2 - A stay mechanism

Info

Publication number: AU700125B2
Application number: AU42810/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Manfred Johannes Frank
Original assignee: Group dEtoile Ltd
Current assignee: Group dEtoile Ltd
Priority date: 1994-10-14
Filing date: 1997-10-24
Publication date: 1998-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 2014-10-14
Also published as: AU4281097A; AU7582394A; AU680542B2

Description

44649DIV DP:LJF P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

*Name of Applicant: GROUP D'ETOILE LIMITED I Actual Inventor(s): MANFRED JOHANNES FRANK S: Address for Service: COLLISON CO.,117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: A STAY MECHANISM S*i. The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 This invention relates to a stay mechanism and more particularly a stay mechanism which is suited for use with display cases which are openable for access to the interior thereof.

A display case as used in a museum to show objects of interest, but at the same time protect them, typically comprises a base and a transparent cover over the base to house or enclose the objects.

In a "table top" type display case the base of the display case may typically be positioned at about waist height. The display case has a transparent cover that can generally be wider than it is tall. Typically the I "transparent cover is formed from glass and as a result the cover is quite heavy. The weight is increased if the cover is formed of thick glass to guard against S"theft of the often valuable objects on display, or accidental breakage from someone dropping something such [as a camera on the display case.

There is therefore a need for a stay mechanism which is 20 operable to hold a closure such as a cover of a display case in an open position whereby opening and closing of r e the closure does not require the person carrying out such operation to take a hand off the closure during closing to release the stay mechanism.

Broadly in one aspect of the invention there is provided a stay mechanism for maintaining a closure in an open position, the stay mechanism including a stay arm adapted for pivotal coupling to the closure or a structure with which the closure is movable into a closed position and a track adapted for mounting to or forming part of the structure or closure as the case may be, the stay arm being slidingly engaged by one end to the track, the track having a main run, a detent face in said main run forming a stop to hold the stay arm corresponding in use to an open position of the closure, and a return loop connected to the main run and in which the stay is slidingly guided to permit closing of the closure with the structure.

15 With a display case the typically heavy transparent cover which is often formed of glass is pivotally mounted rather than lifted off. When a display case is opened by lifting up the pivotally mounted transparent tilt cover, the stay mechanism according to the present 20 invention can hold the cover stably in its open position. The display case can be subsequently closed by first lifting the cover open slightly further and then lowering the cover back to its closed position.

Opening and closing of the display case can be done by a t i: 25 single person and it is not necessary for that person to take one 'iand off the heavy glass cover during closing Sto release the stay mechanism.

4 According to a second broad aspect of the invention there is therefore provided a display case having a base and a cover hingedly coupled thereto, the cover being further coupled to the base by a stay mechanism of the type defined in the first broad aspect above.

In the description reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a view of one form of the display case shown in a closed position, Figure 2 is a view of the display case of Figure 1 from one side, in the direction of arrow A showing the openable wall and moving subframe carrying same withdrawn away from the other walls of the display case but before sideways sliding of the openable wall, .Figure 3 shows the display case after sideways i. sliding of the openable wall along the moving subframe to enable access to the interior of the display case, 20 Figure 4 is a corner view showing detail of the base of the display case, moving subframe, and the removable part of the fascia of the display case, Figure 5 is a view from above of the display case, showing the moving subframe withdrawn and the openable glass wall slid sideways, showing further detail, Figure 6 is a sectioned elevation view showing a LJ detail along line A-A of Figure Figure 7 is a similar view but showing a modified form used for carrying heavier weights arising from, say, a large dimension (particularly height) display case, Figure 8 is a detail sectioned elevation view of a fixed wall mounting typically employed with a display case of the type shown in Figures 1 to 7, Figure 9 is a view of a further form of display case in a closed position, Figure 10 is a view of the display case of Figure 9 when open, Figure 11 shows the track of the stay mechanism in Figure 10 on one side of the display case, in which one end of the support stays run, Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view along line I-I of Figure 8, showiig engagement of the end of one of the stays into the track of Figure 11, Figure 13 is a detail cross-sectional elevation of the hinging of the cover of the display case of Figures 9 to 11, Figure 14 is a similar view to Figure 13 but showing the stay coupled at its end to the edge member of the cover, and Figure 15 is a perspective view of a length of edge member according to one preferred form thereof.

In one preferred form the display case comprises a base 1 with legs 2, glass side walls 3, and an optional q lighting roof 4 (which may be replaced by simply a glass 6 or wood roof). One of the side walls 3a is openable to enable access to the interior of the display case. The openable glass side wall is normally locked in position by a lock 6.

Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6 a moving subframe 7 is slidably mounted by rollers 8 to the fascia 12 of the display case. The rollers 8 run in tracks 10 within the edge members 30 of the fascia of the display case. The moving subframe 7 may be formed of box section steel as shown in Figure 6 or of any other suitable construction.

The rollers 8 enable the subframe to be withdrawn away from the base B of the display case in the direction of arrow X in Figures 4 and 5, as the display case is being opened.

15 The moving subframe in turn supports the openable glass o wall 3a through rollers 9 along the side of the moving subframe 7. The lower part of the wall is located in an edge member 30a which provides a track 10 in which rollers 9 engage, so that the glass wall can slide in 20 the direction of arrow Y in Figures 3, 4 and ),0 o. In the preferred form of the display case the edge members 30 form a fascia 12 around the base edges of the *999 walls 3 and 3a of the display case. The fascia edge members 30 are preferably formed of aluminium extrusion or of any other suitable metallic or less preferably non-metallic material including wood. The lower edge of i the glass wall 3a is carried in a channel 14 in a removable edge member 30a of the fascia 12. As shown edge member 30a has track 10 by which the wall 3a is mounted onto the rollers 9, as shown in Figure 4.

To open the display case, the lock 6 is unlocked and removed. This enables the edge member 30a of openable wall 3a to be withdrawn outwardly on moving subframe 7 KI to the position shown in Figure 2, so that the subframe is in the position shown in Figure 5. The partly open glass wall 3a is then slid sideways on the subframe 7 to the position shown in Figures 3 and 5. The procedure to close the display case is the reverse.

While the preferred form shown in the drawings uses rollers which are preferred having regard to the weight 15 of the typically glass sidewall, suitable slides could alternatively be used.

I The moving subframe arrangement as described mounts the removable glass wall 3a by its lower edge. The upper edge of the openable glass wall 3a engages into a 20 downwardly facing channel 13 at the top of the display case. However, in an alternative arrangement a second moving subframe arrangement similar to that described *I could also be provided for mounting the upper edge of the openable wall 3a in the roof of the display case.

8 In the preferred form the cor.ers of the removable fascia part 30a are mitred to match with the complementarily mitred corners 12b of the rest of the fascia 12 around the base of the display as shown, so that when the openable wall 3a is closed the fascia visually looks to be a one piece fascia, ie there is minimal visual interruption to the look of the display case by virtue of one of the glass walls being removable for access.

The display case of the invention is particularly suited to being a larger display case where a removable glass wall would otherwise be very heavy and require more than one person to lift it out to enable access to the interior of the display case, but the invention could also be applied to smaller display cases. The display case can be free standing (as illustrated) or an be wall mounted.

The edge member 30 which forms the individual lengths of the fascia 12 is more particularly shown in Figure The edge member 30 comprises a channel 14 as previously described to receive the edge of a glass wall 3. The ,0 inner walls of channel 14 are preferably serrated as shown. Flange 31 of channel 14 (this being the flange .which is outermost as shown in Figures 1-4) extends downwardly beyond the floor of channel 14 to form with a downwardly extending flange 32 a small channel 34.

Flange 32 forms with the underside of channel 14 and a I

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4- 444 #4 4* 4, 9 return 35 the track 10 in which rollers 9 locate.

Preferably a small lip 35a is formed downwardly from the base of channel 14 and spaced from flange 32, this lip serving to locate the upper portion of the roller.

The upper end of the inner flange 36 has a return 37 which in the arrangement illustrated in Figure 6 locates over the base board 38 of the base B or as shown in Figure 7 aligns with the edge of base board 38.

The arrangement in Figure 6 shows rollers 8 located in channel or track 10 these rollers being carried by an axle 39 extending from the box section )f subframe 7.

Axle 39 is preferably mounted eccentrically in a bush carried in subframe 7. By rotating bush 40 the eccentric mounting of shaft 39 causes the shaft to move 15 upwardly or downwardly thereby providing a degree of height adjustment. A grub screw 41 in the upper portion of the box section of subframe 7 can be used to lock the bush 40 in its adjusted position.

A groove 42 is formed in the underside of the return This can incorporate a dust seal S(see, for example, Figure 14) so as to provide a seal against the ingress of dust at a point where the cover engages with the base B or a base flange element.

However, in the arrangement of the display case as shown in Figures 1-5 an upstand 43 from a substantially L-

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shaped (when viewed in plan) plate 44 locates in groove 42. Plate 44 is fixedly mounted to base B at the point where a corner of the cover is to be located. Thus mitred corners of two walls 3 at mutual right angles can be correctly located in place by grooves 42 engaging over upstands 43 which are set at mutual right angles.

Once a wall 3 is in position it can be fastened in place by the use of an L-shaped bracket 45 (see Figure 8) being attached via a suitable mechanical fastening 47a to flange 36 of edge member 30 and a mechanical fastener 47b extending through the bottom leg of the bracket and into base B.

Figure 8 shows in more detail the mounting of the upper edge of the glass wall 3 to the roof 4. As illustrated 15 roof 4 incorporates at its peripheral edge a downwardly extending inverted channel 50 into which the upper edge of the glass wall 3 with a capping piece 51 can be inserted. A series of set screws 52 or the like extending through the inner flange of the inverted channel 50 can be used to tie the channel to the upper edge of the glass via the capping 51.

For large or heavier covers a modified form of the arrangement in Figure 6 is used and this is more particularly shown in Figure 7. According to this arrangement a second larger roller 53 is mounted a spaced distance along the subframe 7 from roller 8 this larger roller 53 locating between the return frames 37 11 and plate 44. This roller 53 absorbs weight transmitted from the cover and thereby reduces loadings on rollers 8. No height adjustment as for roller 8 is provided with roller 53. Furthermore a heavier eg larger crosssection of box section is used for subframe 7 and to this extent base board 38 is located slightly higher and incorporates an undercut 54 to accommodate the larger dimensions of the subframe 7.

According to a further form of table top type display case (see Figures 9 to 14) the case also comprises a base 1 with legs 2, and a glass cover C. In the drawings the glass cover is box shaped but it could be of other shapes such as half a cylinder for example.

The glass cover C is pivotally mounted, for example, by hinging along one edge thereof so that the cover C can be opened to the position shown in Figure 10, and closed back to the position shown in Figure 9.

As shown in Figure 13 the hinging is achieved by one leaf 56 of a hinge 55 fastened through to the base B while the other hinge leaf 57 extends through a slot formed in the return 35 at lower end of edge member to be fastened to flange 32. The mechanical fastening F used to fasten leaf 57 of the hinge extends through a thickened portion of flange 32 such that the end thereof resides within channel 34. The fastening is thus hidden from view by skirt 31a. Thus while skirt 31a together ye 4 4 0 0*00 040 4* 4.

4 40 12 with flange 32 and the small step portion 58 (see Figure at the lower end thereof provide aesthetically pleasing lines at the join between the cover C and the base B the skirt 31a nevertheless provides the useful function of hiding the ends of any fastenings extending through flange 32. This also applies as will be hereafter seen to the mounting of the stay arm.

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As shown in Figure 13 a substantially Z-shaped element 59 is anchored to base B via one leg 60 while the other leg 61 locates and supports the base board 38. Element 59 extends about the base B to form a flange over which the cover C fits. As shown in Figure 14 the dust seal S sits on flange A stay arm 16 is provided one on either side of the cover C. The upper end of each stay arm is pivotally connected to the cover via edge member 30 which as previously described forms part of a fascia 12 around the edge of the cover 3 this fascia when the cover is closed engaging over the flange of interjoining elements 59 on the base of the display case.

As shown in Figure 14 the end of the stay arm 16 is coupled via a mechanical fastening 63 through flange 32.

In the illustrated arrangement a lock nut 68 is provided so as to prevent the mechanical fast,-.-±ng from unscrewing upon repeated opening and closing of the display case applying a torque via the stay arm 16 to the fastener.

The lower end 18 of each stay arm 16 slides within a track 19 formed in vertical flange 64 of surround element 59. The track 19 can be seen in Figure 10 and is specifically shown in Figure 11.

One stay arm and track mechanism is described and it will be understood that in the preferred form display case where there are two stay arms, they are the same on each side. Also for heavy covers a pair of stay arms and associated track mechanisms can be provided at each side of the cover.

i .1 Referring to Figure 12 it can be seen that the lower end o 18 of the stay arm carries a pin 20 which protrudes into the track 19. The pin 20 has an enlarged head 21 which V is captured within the cross-sectional shape of the Strack 19 as shown in Figure 12. The lower end 18 of the stay arm 16 is thus securely held slidingly within the S *s track so that it cannot come free. The sliding movement S 20 of the lower end 18 of the stay carrying the pin o. along the track 19 and return as the cover of the display case is opened and then closed as indicated by arrows in Figure 11. The track has a main run 22.

When the cover C is closed the lower end 18 of the stay arm 16 is in the position indicated at Z in Figure 11.

uLe structures\ss~er 81 -4X t Towards the other end of the main run of the track 19 is provided a detent face 23 formed by the end of the track dropping down to a lower level. When the cover of the display case is opened, the pin 20 of the stay arm moves along the track 19 and then drops down behind the detent face 23. If the person opening the cover then releases the cover, the cover will be held in the open posit! :n shown in Figure 10 with the pin 20 on the lower end of the stay arm against the detent face 23 in the position at 0 In Figure 11. When the display case is intended to be wall mounted small springs can be used to apply a bias to stay arm 16 to ensure it correctly moves into position 0.

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,*4 A block 65 is fastened to surround element 59. This 15 block 65 has a shaped projection G6 which locates within the enlarged part 67 at the end o' main run 22.

Projection 67 thus defines the inner edge of the track about which pin 20 moves as hereinafter described.

A spring plate 24 formed of a resilient plastic for 20 example, is mounted by bolt 25 at the end of the block The position of the spring plate 24 is shown in phantom outline in Figure 12. To subsequently close the cover of the display case, the person raises the cover of the display case slightly further, which will cause the lower end 18 and pin 20 of the stay arm 16 to continue moving along the path indicated by arrows in Figure 11 away from the detent face 23 and up and over a

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r u Ir~~ r .vu pr vlll 3 Ir r\llv. Il ru Illrluu loop part 26 of the track 19 against the spring plate 24 and along, dropping down onto the main run 22 of the track, and then back down the track to its original starting position. As the pin 20 passes against and out of engagement with the spring plate 24 it will give a positive "click" and the spring plate prevents the pin on the end of the stay arm from dropping back down.

The person opening and closing the display case 'can at all times hold the heavy glass cover with two hands so that it does not drop, and does not need to take one hand off to operate or release the stay mechanism. At the same time the stay mechanism holds the cover securely in its open position, and because the cover does not need to be completely lifted off the base of the display case the chance of the cover being broken is much lower.

If desired, a suitable lock such as that indicated at 27 may be used to lock the cover of the display case .closed.

20 The display case of the invention does not need to be of the shape and size exactly as shown i the drawings, but could be any type of display case which is provided with a hinging cover. Also as described it can be wall I mounted rather than supported on a plinth or legs as shown in Figures 9 and 10. such operar ion L. uLe a Lctn.u u w- closing to release the stay mechanism.

i~ i-;r The foregoing describes the invention according to preferred forms thereof, and alterations and modifications as will be obvious to tho.se skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope hereof.

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Claims

1. A stay mechanism for maintaining a closure in an open position, the stay mechanism including a stay arm adapted for pivotal coupling to the closure or a structure with which the closure is movable into a closed position and a track adapted for mounting to or forming part of the structure or closure as the case may be, the stay arm being sliding'.y engaged by one end to the track, the track having a main run, a detent face in said main run forming -a stop to hold the stay arm corresponding in use to an open position of the closure, and a return loop connected to the main run and in which the stay is slidingly guided to permit closing of the closure 15 with the structure. 4t

2. A stay mechanism as claimed in claim 1 further including biasing means for maintaining contact with the detent face.

3. A stay mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said one end of the stay arm includes a follower which is slidingly engaged with the track.

4. A stay mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein the follower is a pin which projects substantially at right angles to said one end of the stay arm.

Figure 6 is a sectioned elevation view showing a detail along line A-A of Figure I e'i 18 A stay mechanism as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the main run and return of the track loop are formed by a continuous slot.

6. A stay mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including movable abutment associated with the return loop such that once the one end of the stay arm has moved into the return loop reverse movement thereof is prevented.

7. A stay mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein the abutment is a plate biased by spring biasing means.

8. A stay mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the abutment face is located at substantially right angles to and below the main run. 15

9. A display case having a base and a cover hingedly 1 coupled thereto, the cover being further coupled to the base by a stay mechanism of the type claimed in :any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A display case as claimed in claim 9 wherein the stay arm is slidingly coupled by said one end to the track situation with the base and by its other end is pivotally coupled to the cover. -I on *Md k In one preferred form the display case comprises a base 1 with legs 2, glass side walls 3, and an optional lighting roof 4 (which may be replaced by simply a glass 19

11. A display case as claimed in claim 9 or 10 having two stay mechanisms.

12. A stay mechanism substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings. 1~4i~ ir 1 i DATED this 24th day of October 1997 GROUP D'ETOILE LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys COLLISON CO 'P-f^ *9 S 0r members 30 are preferably formed of aluminium extrusion or of any other suitable metallic or less preferably non-metallic material including wood. The lower edge of ABSTRACT "A STAY MECHANISM" 9* oa A** 0U 9 i a A stay mechanism for maintaining a closure such as the cover of a display case in an open position relative to a structure such as the base with which the display case is mounted. The stay mechanism includes a stay arm adapted for pivotal coupling to the cover and a track (19) mounted with or forming part of the base. The stay arm is slidingly engaged by one end to the track (19), the track having a main run a detent face (23) in the main run which forms a stop to hold the stay arm corresponding in use to an open position of the cover. A return loop (26) is connected to the main run and by which the stay is slidingly guided to permit closing of 15 the cover with the base. The loop return (26) includes an abutment plate (24) which is biased by a spring such that when the stay arm has been moved passed the abutment (24) return movement of the stay arm is prevented. (Figure 11).