US409009A - Show-case - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) Y J. BUGKMASTBR.

SHOW CASE.

No. 409,009. Patented Aug'. 13,` 1889.

Egli t @3J-J5 l N. PI'RS, Phew-Llihngrzphr, Washington. D.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BUOKMASTER, OF ALTON, ILLINOIS.

SHOW-CAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,009, dated August 13, 1889.

Application filed March 19, 1889. Serial No. 303,835. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BUoKMAsTER, of Alton,in the county of Madison and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Show-Cases, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming part of this speciiication.

This invention relates to a spring-opening show-case especially adapted for the exhibit of cigars, jewelry, dac., that require to be protected from dust, dampness, or injury by any other means from exposure when not on exhibit, and yet quickly opened up for the inspection of customers; and the invention consistsI in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

Figure I is a top view of the show-case, showing the lids closed. Fig. II is a like view showing the lids elevated. Fig. III is an enlarged vertical end section taken on line III III, Fig. II, and shows the position of the springs after the elevation of the lids. Fig. IV is an enlarged vertical end section taken on line IV IV, Fig. I, and shows the position of the springs when the lids are closed; and Fig. V is an enlarged vertical detail section taken on line V V, Fig. I, and shows the position of the springcatch and push-pin when the lids are locked in their closed position.

Referring to the drawings, l represents the bottom, 2 the sides, and 3 the ends, of the case.

4 is the cross-partition that divides the operative springchamber 5 from the exhibitchamber, and (5 is the cover of said spring'- chamber.

7 represents th e sectional folding lids, which are preferably of equal diameter, the inner edges of which meet together when closed over the middle of the case, the jointbetween them being surmounted bythe bead 8, that is secured to the lid that is last to close and overlaps the meeting edge of the other. The lids are respectively secured by hinges f) to the side boards of the case, and are limited in the extent of their opening' by the straps 10, which may be made out of any suitable material that is both stron g enough for the purpose and sufliciently tractable not to interfere with the folding and unfolding of the lids.

I will now' describe the toggle-spring device by which I effect the automatic elevation of the lids when it is desired to exhibit the contents of the case.

I1 represents two contract-in g spiral springs whose lower hooks l2 are secured by staples or eyelet-screws 13 to the bottom of the case, inside the operative spring-chamber 5. The surmounting hooks 14 of said spiral springs engage through the perforations 15 with the inner ends of the fulcrum-levers 1G, which levers are hung on the fulcrum pins or bolts I7, that are secured in the partition-piece 4 and project inwardly into the spring-chant ber. Vide washers 1S between said levers and the heads of the fulcrum-pins keep the levers from divergin g from their correct vertical movement. 'lhe outer ends of the fulcrum-levers v1G are seated within the bifurcated forks I9 at the lower ends of the toggle-links 20, to which the lever is connected by the pivot pins or bolts 2l. The upper ends of said toggle-links occupy pivotal seats between the perforated lugs 22 of the brackets 23, to which the said toggle-links are connected by the pivot pins or bolts 24. said brackets are secured to the under side of the lids 7 by the screws 25.

26 represents a spring snap-catch that is located inside the spring-chamber 5, the lower end of the strap of which spring-catch is secured to the end piece of the case inside the spring-chamber by screws or nails 27, and the upper end of the strap is surmounted by the head of the catch 2S.

29 is a push-pin, which is secured to the strap of the spring snap-catch and projects through a perforation 30 in the said end piece of the case sul'iiciently, so that when pushed inward Hush with the outside of the case it releases the spring-catch, which catch works freely in said spi ingchamber and in the cutaway Sl in the cover of said chamber and the cut-away in the under side of the lid 7, that surmounts it.

A catch-plate 33, which is provided with an elongated slot 34, within which the springcatch works, is secured by screws to the under side of said lid around the cut-away 32.

The

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The front edge of said plate projects under of the end piece This projection of the edge of said plate, it willbe seen, forms a catchhold 35, on which thehead of the catehlatches when the lids are closed in the position shown in Figs. I, IV, and V. The lid which is provided with the stop-bead is latched by said catch, and said stop-bead holds down the adjacent lid.

New, when it is desired to open the case for exhibit, all that is necessary to do is to operate the push-pin 9S), which unlatches the catch, and the lids are instantly automatically thrown up by the action of the springs, the fulcrn1nlevers, and toggle-links into the position shown in Figs. II and III. To effect said opening when the lids' are unlatehed by pushing in the pin 29, that governs the springcatch, the spiral springs ll contract to their normal condition and draw downward the inner ends of the fulcruni-levers lli, which consequently throw up their outer ends, and by the toggle-links that connect said ends of the fulcrinn-levers with the lids the said lids are elevated.

The device is a convenience to both the salesmen and the inspector of the goods nnder exhibit, and is an advantageous set-ott` to a counter display in jewelry, cigar, and. other stores where the goods require to be protected from injury by dust, dampness, the.,

when not on exhibi t, and yet to be easily thrown open to exhibit at any time required and allow many such eases to be speedily handled.

The partition 4, that incloses the springchamber, may, if desired, be a looking-glass, which is placed so as to reflect into the exhibit-receptacle ot the case, and which thus enhances the beauty of the exhibit.

The cases may be made of any material desired, and their lids made, as shown, with wooden frames inclosing glass panels or of any other suitable construction.

I claim as my invention- In a show-case, the combination of the ease with its folding lids, the spring-chamber 5, the spring snap-catch 2G, the push-pin that operates said catch, the spiral springs ll, the fut erom-levers lf3, the pins on which said levers fulcrunl, the toggle-links 20, the means of connection of said spiral springs to the bot- 5o

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