US2235649A - Display rack for silverware display cases - Google Patents

Description

March 18, 1941.

J. D. SHAW DISPLAY RACK FOR SILVERWARE DISPLAY GASES Filed Aug. 21, 1940 Patented Mar. 18, 1941 PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY RACK FOR SILVERVVARE DISPLAY SES John D. Shaw, Meriden, Conn, assigncr to International Silver Company, Meriden, 001111., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 21, 19%, Serial No. 353,447

7 Claims.

This invention relates to display racks for silverware display cases and the like.

One object of the invention is a novel and improved rack for supporting silverware display cases in a manner most effectively to display the ware.

A further object of the invention is a rack of the above indicated character which is characterized by its simplicity in construction and assembly and the economy with which it may be manufactured on a quantity production basis.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application,

wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rack embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the rack; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is illustrated in connection with a display case for displaying table flatware, the main body of the case being indicated at l, and the lid being indicated at 2, which is hinged at 3 to the rear of the main body I.

The rack is formed of five elements, comprising a pair of base supports 4, a retaining plate 5, and a pair of lid clips or holders 6. Each-of the elements 4 is formed of a single piece of wire having a bottom portion I, an upper portion 8 spaced from and disposed at an acute angle to the portion 1, a rear upright part 9, and a front substantially vertical or upright part [0. The part II] is formed substantially at right angles to the portion l, and at its upper end it is bent over and dropped downwardly to form a seat H at the juncture with the portion 8. The end of the portion 8 is firmly fastened to the upright part 9 in any suitable manner, as for example by welding, and the part 9 is bent forwardly at I6 and provided at its upper end with a portion 9 which extends forwardly at an obtuse angle to the upright part 9. Each of the elements 6 is also formed of a single piece of wire with the upper end thereof bent over to form two short right-angularly disposed parts I2 and Hi. The intermediate member or retaining plate 5 is formed of sheet metal having its upper and lower edges reinforced by peening over the edge thereof, as indicated at M. The ends of this intermediate retaining member 5 have their edges bent or rolled over to form sockets It for the reception of the wire parts 6 and 9.

The main body portion l of the display case rests upon the portions 8 of the base elements 4, with the lower front edge of the main body I resting against the seats ll formed at the junctures between the vertical portions I 9 and inclined portions 8. The lid 2 of th display case is retained in the open position by the elements 6, the right-angularly formed portions I2 and [3 of the members 6 engaging the front or free edge of the lid to hold it in the open position. The wire support portions 8 are given an inclination to the portions I such that with the portions i resting upon a fiat supporting surface the body I of the display case is supported at the desired angle with the rear part of the case elevated up above the level of the front part. Similarly, the portions 9' of the upright parts 9 are bent as at iii to form the desired holding angle for the lid 2. In the particular embodiment shown th angle of the portion 9 with respect to the portion 8 is slightly less than a right angle, whereby the lid 2 is supported in a position substantially at right angles to the main body i. Each of the elements of the assembly rack has its parts all formed in coplanar relation, and accordingly the four elements may be packed in a flat compact package for storage and shipment. The rack may be assembled or disassembled with the greatest facility. To assemble the rack for display purposes it is only necessary to insert the retaining plate over the inclined upright portions 9' of the base element, the bends l6 between the portions 9' and 9 serving as stops for limiting the downward telescoping movement of the retaining plate 5 upon the base element. With the elements 4 and 5 thus assembled the display case is positioned upon the base elements with the bottom thereof resting upon the portions 8 and the front edges thereof engaging the seats H. With the display case thus resting upon the base elements, the lid 2 is opened to the desired angle and the holding and retaining elements 6 are then inserted over the lid to occupy the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with. the lower ends of the elements 6 firmly held in the sockets [5 which form holding and retaining sockets for both the base and upper elements. Preferably the parts of the wire elements which engage the display case are provided with a fabric protective covering ll. Likewise a similar fabric covering is provided on the portions 1 and H) of the base elements and the lower parts of the portions 9. The forming of the elements 4 out of slender wire so as to form the closed coplanar figures T, 8, 9, ID with the seats H, together with the retaining plate 5 results in a firm structure notwithstanding the slenderness of the wire, and the weight of the case resting upon the rack and against the seats ll, assisted by the angle parts 9', tends to retain the elements 4 in parallel planes at all times.

I claim:

1. In a rack for displaying cases for silverware and the like, a pair of base elements each formed of a single piece of wire having a bottom supporting part, an upper part disposed at an angle thereto for engaging the bottom of a display case, a front upright part forming with the upper part a seat, and a rear upright part fastened to the upper part and having a forwardly extending angularly disposed retaining portion at its upper end, a pair of lid retaining wire elements having their upper ends formed to hold the front edge of the lid, and a common retaining plate spacing said elements and having their ends rolled to form sockets for the reception of the forwardly extending retaining portions of the base elements and said lid holding elements.

2. In a rack for displaying cases for silverware and the like, a pair of base elements each formed of a single piece of wire having a bottom supporting part, an upper part disposed at an angle thereto for engaging the bottom of a display case, a front upright part forming with the upper part a seat, and a rear upright part fastened to the upper part and having a forwardly extending angularly disposed retaining portion at its upper end, a pair of lid retaining wire elements having their upper ends formed to hold the front edge of the lid, and a common retaining plate spacing said elements and having their ends rolled to form sockets for the reception of the forwardly extending retaining portions of the base elements and said lid holding element, each of said wire elements having its parts all disposed in the same plane.

3. In a rack for silverware display cases and the like, a pair of base elements formed of wire, each of said elements comprising a closed figure of increasing heighth from the front to the rear, the upper side of the figure having a bend formed at right angles thereto at the front end to form seats for the display case, with the rear upright parts of the figure having the upper portions thereof bent forwardly at an obtuse angle, a pair of upper lid holding elements formed of wire and an intermediate retaining plate having the ends rolled around to form sockets for the reception of said portions of the base and the upper elements.

4. In a rack for silverware display cases and the like, a pair of base elements formed of Wire, each of said elements comprising a closed figure of increasing heighth from the front to the rear, the rear upright parts of the figure extending beyond the figure and having the ends thereof bent forwardly at obtuse angles, a retaining plate having the ends formed into sockets for the reception of said portions with the bends forming a stop for the plate, and means carried by the plate for holding the lid of the case.

5. In a rack for silverware display cases and the like, a pair of base elements formed of wire, each of said elements comprising a closed figure of increasing heighth from the front to the rear, the rear upright parts of the figure extending beyond the figure and having the ends thereof bent forwardly at obtuse angles, a retaining plate having the ends formed into sockets for the reception of said portions with the bends forming a stop for the plate, and means carried by the plate for holding the lid of the case, including a pair of upper lid holding elements formed of wire, with the main portions of the wire disposed in said sockets and the upper parts formed with hook-like portions to engage the lid of the case.

6. A rack for silverware display cases and the like comprising a pair of base elements formed of wire, a pair of upper lid holding elements formed of wire, and an intermediate retaining element comprising sockets on the opposite sides thereof for receiving portions of the base elements and the lid holding elements.

7. A rack for silverware display cases and. the like comprising a pair of base elements formed of wire, a pair of upper lid holding elements formed of wire, and an intermediate retaining element comprising sockets on the opposite sides thereof for receiving portions of the base elements and the lid holding elements, each of said wire elements having its parts all disposed in the same plane.

JOHN D. SHAW.

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