US1755880A - Construction for display cases and the like - Google Patents

Description

April 22, 1-930. H. F. KEIL CONSTRUCTION FOR DISPLAY CASES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 10, 1928 IN ENTOR g ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 22, 1930 Kenny Knit; F .scAnsDALn, NEW YOR f i consrnirorxon F03; DISPLAY CASES ANDEm 'LIKE iiAp'plicatioii filed repruar 'lo, 192a Serial No. 253325;

This invention relates-to construction for display cases and the like and more-particularlyr to'sliding panels or doors of such de- -v1ces. a V 5 One of the objectsof-the invention isto provide a mounting for sliding-panels of display cases or the'like which is; thor0ugh1y 5 practical and vefiicient Another obj ect' is to provide a construction of the above nature by means of which the panels are mounted so that they slide smoothly and quietly. Ans

other objectis to provide a construction of the above nature which is conveniently and I dependably maintained in eflicient-operating condition. Anotherfobject is to provide'a construction of the above nature which is ca pable of being kept'clean conveniently. An: other object is'to provide a construction of. the above n'aturewhich dependably supports the panels for smooth and v easy sliding action irrespective of the care or skillemployed by.

g the workman making the installation. Other objects will be inipart obvious '01 in part pointed out hereinafteri 1 ments,land arrangements of parts as willbe exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter" described and the scopeof the application of indicated in the following p p I a a a 7 panel 11. A series of the rollers is provided k for each panel and the rollers of each series i which will .b

In the accompanying drawing in which are shown one-or more var ous possible emlOQdP' ments of the several features of thisinven o v I The invention accordingly: consists in the: 1 features ofconstruction, comblnatlons 0fele'- lar parts throughoutthe several views of the drawing. I v .i 7'

Referring now to-the drawing in detail and-first to Figure lythere are shown two 'up right panelsor doo-rs10 and 11 of a display case: These panels may beemployed to-close the front or rear of the display case and tbey are adaptd to be slid into -,overlapping?re lation to gain access tojthe interior oft'the display case. The member 12frepres'ents -the bottom or base of the display caseand it has associated therewith an elongated groove in the construction here illustrated the'gro'ove 13"i's formedfby. two spaced membersxlftand 15' which are secured to the base '12by an'y- V,

suitable securing means. The lower edges of the panels'10 and 11 are positioned within the groove 13 and; beneath the panels and within the groove arerollers which anti fric tion'ally support the panels 'forislidingfinove In, the

construction here illustrated the' panels :10 and 1-1 have channel pieces lfi and 17 embracing their lower edges andexte'n'ding which may be-formed in any suitable manner v throughout their lengths. The bottom sur v facesof these'channel pieces-wand 17 rest uponth'e rollers which support the panels, the rollersq18-be1ng provided for t1'1e'pa'nel'10- and the rollers 19 being provided for the' are held in 'prope'rkspac'e'd relationby any suitable holding andrspacing means; 54- Preferably the spacerstake the form of elon-;

gated strips of sheet metal bent to have a. I

v Figure l' is a vertical sectional view show;

the lower Po s ir of slidin Pa 61S displaces a d t ir" suppqain 'means, a 1 v Figm'eZ is a. topjp1an view showing porttionsjo'f the panel supporting cion struction Figure 3 a side viewion a; smallensc aler and broken away, showing the partsthroughi V f F igureois' a planvi'ew showings -iied QQHStru otioni I lar torFigu 'rel show 7 characters refer to slrmcross-section'in the shape of a U, the spacing 1 member 20 for the :rollers'18 and the spacing member 21; for the rollers19 being cle'arly shown in Figure 11;. Extending betweenthe; p

sidewalls of the spacermembersiareshort shafts or spindles 22 whichZ'paSsJaXialIy throughthe rollers, permitting freerotaftion' of the 'rollers and yet,in-'con'junction with" 1 the spacing membersjholding the rollers in i predetermined spaced. relation as the "rollers 6; roll and the lspacersz'mov'e alongtherewith; I lAs shown in Figure.1, an d"as maybe seen 11H:

Figure 3 also,-the upperportions o-fthe roll ers project throughopenings inthe closed upper sides of the spacer members and the lower portions of the rollers/project downwardly below the side walls of the'spacers.

It may be herenoted that display case panels, such as the panels 10 and 11, are trequent- 1y madeof heavy plate glass and their weight is very substantial. In order that they may slide smoothly ancliquietly -it-is very important tliatth'e surfaces engaged by the supporting rollers 18 and 19 lie smooth and tree from obstruction. The slightest unevenness in the surfaces upon which the rollers roll" causes a very undesirable rumblingv and vibration when the heavy panels are moved.

Also, display cases in w-hich these panels are used are often employed'for the purpose of displaying fdod and i't i becomes 1 of great importance that the panels and their sup-portin; ineansbe kept clean:

Referring again to Figure 1-', secured in the groove -13 is a sheet metal'member 'having a central upright web23 and a pair of lateral flange portions 24:; and I 25 wh ch rest tl atwis'e againstthebaseof the groove This sheet metalmember'isrigidlysecured wlt-lnn the groove preferably by nieans' of suitable see curing means such as'screws 26passing clownwardly throughopenings in the parts24 and 25 an d: into;th'e.. display case base12 The "memberisf-torinedfrom a single; strip of sheet metal which :is bent :upon itself to form the upright portion 23 of double the thickness of the fsheetmetal, the parts 24 and25fbeing flanged foutwardly at right anglesto pm I Above the' \sheet' metal member just: de-' scribed-is a second vsheet metal member "cont. prising'an upright web 27-28, laterally eX-' tendingiportions 29 and 30, and a pairof upright side'fiangestal and 32 which rest against the side walls of the groove;

I sheet metal member is preferably formed of a;single Striprof-sheet metal, the strip being bent upon itself to provide the upright portions"- 27 and :28 which embrace the upright web 23 of the lower sheetmetal member.

' The partt29: provides a track upon which the-rollers. 18 roll and the part 30 p rovides a exceptthat a frictional holding 'may be had betweemtheparts 27 and-"28 and the part '23." The surfacesof 'the track parts 29 and 30 are psmooth; andxi'egular andfree' from 'any openings orscrwheads orothe'robstinctioris wh iclrwou-ld, interfere Jvith- @the smooth op g eratiort'of the rollers: The'scre'ws' 26 dependabflyz hold; 1=thelower sheet metal member in posit on:andpthe upright web23'ot this mem ber determines thefpo'sition of the upper sheet metal-,;me1nbezand itstraclr portions so that, once the lower member is" secured in position, the? position ozt 1t -e tracks and-walls {27 This "upper The side flanges 31 and 32 of the upper sheet metal member rest preferably against the respective'side walls of the groove 13 as above mentioned. The rollers 18 and the spacing member 20 move between the flange 31 and thewall 27 ,and the rollers 19 and the spacing member 21 move between the flange 32and;the.wall 28; The parts 31 and 27, and the parts 32and 28, thus guide the rollers and theirspacers in their movement. The upper sheet metal member is formed so that the distancesbetween the parts" 31- and- 27 and between the parts 32and 28 are such that the rollers and their spacers fit properly therebetwecn for smooth and easy action without binding; Thus, the accuracy or inaccuracy with which the walls of the groove 13' are formed has no effect upon the smooth and free action of the rollers, the latter being always dependahly guided.

\ As has been mentioned above," the sheet 1 metal member comprising the parts27 and 28, the track portions29 and '30, and theside flanges 31and 32'is-not fastened'in the'g'r'ooi e and may beeasilyremoved; when the panels 10 and'll are cleaned, they are ordinarily lifted out of the display case by raising them upwardly and then swinging them outwardly at the bottom. After the panels have been remoyed; the uppersheet metal member may be lifte'd'out of "the grooi e 13', carrying the rollersand the spacers'witli it, and the entire structure may be thereupon easily, cleaned;

when the removable track member is replaced, ltS PQSllllOIl is predetermined 'by the parts27. and 28 fitting over the central web 23 of the lower sheet metal member which is" permanentlysecured inplace. 'It na'y be pointedout also that the parts 27 and 28 preferably projectyupwardly between the lowerportions" of the two panels 10'an d .11

and hold themin proper spaced relation; In order to fac litate removal of the remoifable track ineinberythere are preferablyprovided intherparts 2? and 28.0p'e'nings'27 and28 which permit of obtaining a grip with the fingers or whielrinay ber'en'gaged by an implement, such as a button'hoolef I In the construction shownin Figure 4, the track portions 29 and 30 are provided with central longitudinal ribs 33 and 3 4: respectively. The rollers 18 and. 19 have formed in their peripheries central grooves 35 and 36 with whi'elifthe .ribsf33 and 34 cooperate as th'eitillejis roll. The ribs 33 andiea are bent from the'sheetmetal and? are ,Iiiade isinooth and regular, free from any holes or lnterrup:

, tions in'their surfaces,-soIthattherollers rollbatmanemming tea are eases lide quietly. coact ingribs and grooves-are advantageous in that they keep therollers always centered between the side alls ofthe spaces in'which' they move and thus prevent a rubbing or scraping between the metal parts asth'e panels areslid,

-Also-,'in the modification shoivn'in Figure 4,-the'central vertical web of the bottom sheet metal member is omitted, this member com-- 7 prising simply a flat base portion-40 resting 10 against the base ofthe groove and extending from sideto side thereof, and having the upright side }fianges Bl and 32 which'f rest againstthe side alls ofthefgroovejsubstam tially as in the form shown in" Figure-{1, the side flanges 31 and'32 in theform shown in 1 Figure 1 being formed-on theupper member While in the form shown in Figure 4 they are E I'IDGCl OII the lovver'member and fastenedin the groove thereWith The memoer lO' witheits side fiangesis thus substantially U- shape and is permanently secured in the groove by any suitable securing n eans' extending downwardly into the base lQsuch, for example, as the screws 26. In this typeof construction the parts 27 and 28' of the Y upperltrack'member form aspacer forthe 7 panels just as they do inthe form shown inFigure- 1-, butpreferably these twofl-parts'f 27 land; 28' rest flatwise against each other 30 insteadof being spaced apart. The upper i track nember'is looselyipositionedabovetlie V lowermember and is conveniently removable by engaging a suitable iinplem'ent' in the opening27 q; In this construction, as well as in the 1 construction showneinl Figure 1, the

rollers and their spacing members are guided in their movements bythemetal' walls27 and v illand the metalwalls28' and '32, thesmooth-J ness of operation thus bein'g'independent of V 49 the accuracy withwhich the groove is formed r, and being not affected by warping or shrink- 50 isa continuous inemberiextendingthe full.

iiilength of theigrooveand theshort spaced pieces serve the' ntended purpose in substantially the same manner.

Asinany possible embodiments be' made of the above invention and as many jiichan'ges 'inight be madeinthe embodiment above set" forth, it is to be understood that r all matter hereinbefore set forth or'shown inthe"accompanyingdrawing is to be interso pret'ed'asillustrati-ve andnot in aliiniting 7 Ina-supporting for slidingpanels 1 for displaycases and the like, in: combination,

' 5 t I a pluralityof rollers-adaptedtobeipositioned gated sheetmet l beneath; the panel to anti-frictionally sup,- port the panel for sliding movement, and

means to be positionedunderneathsaid rollers to form atra'ck'therefor comp rising a sheet" 7 metal member adapted to besecured;flatv Wise, against a base anda {second sheet metal member resting upon said first member and removable therefrom, and afda l ited'to provide a smooth surface on which the rollers rel-1,

,2. In a suppoi'tingmeansfor sli diiigpanels fordi'splay cases and the like, in combination,

a plurality of rollers adaptedto'be positioned beneath' the panel'fto anti-'irictionally' s ip i port thepanel for sliding movement,.,and s means to be p ositioned underneath said rollers to form a track; therefor. comprising a sheet metal member adapted to be secured fiat ivise against a base and having opei'iingsjfoi',

screws to, passjdownwardly therethrough into said'fbajse, and a second sheet metal'member "free I fro nf openings resting upon said, first and removable therefrom, said second (sheet metal member being adapted. toiprovide a smoothlsurface, on which thei ollers roll' fr V i from interference 'by 'said "screw openings or.

the screw heads.

V 3. In a supportingm'eans fol-ending panels to provide 7 a runway for said T rollers having a base port on forming'a traclcon wli c-lrthe for display cases and the"like,"in,coinbina- 'tion, ja .v plurality of rollers adapted to -be positioned beneath the 'paneljto' anti-fric;v tionally support the panel for Slldll'lgfllnQVC: j iinent, a" holder'ffor cooperating with said rollers to hold them in spaced relation, and. an elongated sheet' nietahmember adapted IOU rollers roll,-"said sheetimetal'member being adapted to be P i i ed in a groove theretor';

in the displaycase base andfbeing removable therefrom for cleaning andsheet metal 1 means adapted to be fiXed infsaid groove under said elongatedsheetnietal member, 'one of'said sheet metal "devices having up right side flanges for guiding saidrollers and '3 said holder. l 1 I 4. In a supporting ine'ansfor sliding panels for'displayw cases and the likejin con bin'ae tion with a displayeasebase having anelon anti-frictionaily suppo 't'tlie panelfor slid j iii'g' movement lengthwise thereot, an elongated sheet metal in ember positioned in c said rollers, anda. pair of uprightside flanges for guiding and forming a predetermined path for the rollers in their movement.

5. In a supporting meansfo r slidingpanels: for display cases and the like, in 'combina-' tion with adisplay easebasehaving an -elon gated groovethere n anda "plurality of rollers adapted to" roll in. said groove and' t anti fri'ctionally' support the panel-for sud-1 ing movement "lengthwise: thereof, an elon f eriiloerpositimied:irrs'aijd,v

i he

gated groove therein 'andla' plurality of i V rollers adapt-ed to roll in said groove and g ebe seonwhichthe enses r011, .t V. .l lf hi t, ,nietzil member in said steers idL w v member iisf'c riecllon'e of said sheet metal i prighft sidfiinges .7 e lipredeterinined for the rollers in their movement; said elongatedsheet l ete'l member be1ngremov- V le tdmse'id eii erefe'r s. f 6;. Ina'snppo ting means for sl ding panels for display ee es'jandthejlike, in combines tion with 1' displey czise basehaving an elongl'ite'cl groove therei and a pluralityof rollers adapted to roll in said groove andanti-fricmentfllengthwi'se thereof it sheet niet'elineni- Po o ed i sa d s e a- IQC QQ' zigeinst the bzisei'thereoi by securing devices eiit erin'g the 'bzise, and e second elongated sheet nieen ineinber positioned in said groove aliove'szrid first sheet metal member said n a onwitli'aj ofpp rallel penel'sadapted tofslide into overlap; il'g relation and a-Ijdisas base he'vingf'en elongated groove; r ginti frijctionally supporting one of id P ls; ro lers f nti-,f o l y. i

pforting the'othjer of ,said-pene l ,,,end a sheet ositioned in sziid groove hzv:

ide -1 mg devices passing-do ivnwardly from said baise" on," and ese'cond sheet metal member positioned in said groove having a cent longitiidinal web exten'dingnpwardlybetween'th'e lowerj'edge portions of seid panels and zrpqirof baseportio-nsone on either-side ofls id w b end restingrzibovesaid base portion '1 said firs't member, one of said base ofseid second member forming a 1 V k on which said first rollers roll and the other of saidlb'as'e portions o f said second memberfori A roll'pancl saild secondmember being vgible from said groove for cleaning. "snpportin'g means for sliding pan:

" cases and the like, in combinato slide into;overlappingrelation and edisj- Plio C support ng" t she hzi .1 1' V I said, g v nd sec. dmseldgroove 11 "sa d first sheet metal nen ny si pportthe panel for sliding m r v ori resting egziinst the base of g V ls'ecnredin s a d groove by se-g.

get-rack on which said second tlo'ffwith a pair of parallel panels adapted e having anelongzited groovey qro'llers for anti-fijetionallv supporting; one rollers for enti-firietionelly he I other of said panels, and 1e, iitalfmeniber positioned in saidgroove .pe li nsre t nszas n t h o x .ecl' tosl'idejil'i't-d-ovei ciiririgdewces passing downwardly wastes said second rollersroll, oneof'said members halving also nprightside flanges one. at the outer side of each of sa cltrack portions, said side flanges resting adjacent tofth'e respective side walls of sa d groove and cooperating with sa d centrelfweb portion to guide sald rollers in their movements, said second member being removable from said groove for cleaning. 7 v o i V i 7 V 9. In a supporting means for; sliding pane ls for display eases and the like, in combination with a pair of parallel panels adapted to slide intooverljapping relation and display ease base having an elongated groove; rollers for anti-frictionally supporting one of said panels, rollers for anti-frictionally supporting the other of said panels, and a sheet n' etal member positioned-1n said groove having s central longitudinal upright vveb, a base portion on one sideofsaic'lweb iorming'i tree-k on whichsaidfirst' rollers roll and a base portion on the other side ofseid web forming .a-track onwlnch said secondrollers roll, said sheet metal member being removable fIOii'lf said groove for cleaning end said web; por

tion-thereof having an opening thereiiito iacilitatejsaid removal. I, v I 10; In a" supporting niean's'lfor sliding pm els' for dlsphiy cases and the like, infcoinbination with 5 display case base having an elongated groove therein an'd'a plural ty of rollersadeptedto? roll in sz'iicl-groove and anti-irist'ionally snpportthe panel for sliding movement lengthwise thereof," a holder for Cooperating and nioving with said rollers to hold them in spaced relation ,compnsing asheet metal member having "side flanges eX- terior of' the side faces of said rollers,"end sheet met'alfmeans positionedinsa'id groove having zi base on which the rollers roll end a pair of upright side floinges'between' which said side fla'ngesof seid holderre'st adept,

.ed to be engaged thereby togni'de .sai d rollers] and said holder in their moveinentend ineens' supporting said sheet inetal inegins in I said groove comprising 9; 'plnral'itjof sp ee "(1' sheet direetion lengthwise of saidgroovezind's'ecured in said groove. g i, '11. In a' supporting means for sliding panels :forfdispliy cages find the'like,"infe'on binati'oniwith'e pair "f 'ai llel' adapt; v i'ng relation ands display case base having an elongated groove,

metal members ofr'elatively short length'in a said first member, a base portion on one side I of said web forming -a track on which said first rollers roll, a base portion on the other side of said web forming a track on which. said second rollers roll and integral side flanges one at the outer side of each of said base portions, said side flanges resting adjacent to therespective side walls of the groove and cooperating with said central web of said upper member to guide said rollers, said upper member being removable from said groove for cleaning. 1

12. In a supporting means for sliding panels for display cases and the like, in combination with a display case base having an elongated groove therein and a plurality of rollers adapted to roll in said groove and antifrictionally support a panel for sliding movement lengthwise thereof, of means to be positioned underneath said rollers toform a track therefor, said means including means secured in said groove and an elongated sheet metal member positioned in said groove'and having a base for supporting the rollers, said sheet metal member being removably held to said second-mentioned means.

13 In a supporting means for sliding panels for display cases and the like, in com bination with a display case base having an elongated groove-therein and a plurality'of rollers adapted to roll in said groove an 1 anti-frictionally support a panel for sliding movement lengthwise thereof, of means to be positioned underneath said rollers to form a track therefor, said means including means secured in said groove and a sheet metal member interposed therebetween and said rollers and having a base for supporting the rollers, said sheet metal member and said secondmentioned means being shaped to interfit and to cause'said sheet metal member to be frictionally held to said second-mentioned means. 14. In a supporting means for sliding panels for display cases and the like, in combination with a display case base having an 7 elongated groove therein and. a plurality of rollers adapted to roll in said groove and anti-frictionally support a panel for sliding movement lengthwise thereof, of means to be positioned underneath said rollers to form a track therefor, said means including a sheet metal member secured in said groove and a sheet metal member interposed therebetween and said rollers and having a base for supporting said rollers, one of said sheet metal members having spaced portions between which a portion of the other sheet metal member is received and frictionally held.

15. In a supporting means for sliding panels for display cases and the like, in com- I bination with a pair of parallel panels adapted to slide into overlapping relation and a display case base having an elongated groove, rollers for anti-frictionally supporting one of said panels, rollers for anti-frictionally supporting the other of said panels, a sheet metal member secured in said groove and having means projecting upwardly from the bottom of said groove and a sheet metal member positioned in said groove and having a base forming tracks for said rollers and being shaped to provide a web extending longitudinally thereof and intermediate of the tracks for said rollers, said web and said projecting means interfitting.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 30th day of January, 1928. o

HENRY F. KEIL.

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