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| United States Patent
|
4,153,154 |
| Ruscher |
May 8, 1979 |
Jewelry display case
Abstract
A generally-rectangular small portable display case for
displaying jewelry and the like including a bottom container having
therein a resilient display member for holding the items to be
displayed; an upper lid having opposed sides which are outwardly
elastically deformable and having a viewing hole in the top of the
lid; and a transparent retaining member therebeneath and connected
thereto by connection means including a pair of opposed latch
members for detachably connecting the lid to the bottom container.
The bottom container includes a peripheral lip supported from
beneath by the latch members when the display case is closed.
| Inventors: |
Ruscher; Fredric C.
(Glendale, AZ) |
| Appl. No.:
|
05/910,211 |
| Filed: |
May 30, 1978 |
| Current U.S.
Class: |
206/6.1 ;
206/566 |
| Current
International Class: |
A45C
11/10 (20060101); A45C 11/00 (20060101); B65D
81/107 (20060101); B65D 25/00 (20060101); B65D
25/54 (20060101); B65D 011/10 (); B65D 005/50 () |
| Field of
Search: |
206/45.31,45.34,45.19,566,523,591,594 220/82R,82A,306 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent
Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Ross; Herbert F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Stoneman; Martin L.
Claims
I claim:
1. A small, portable display case, for displaying jewelry and the
like, comprising:
a. a generally-rectangular bottom container member;
b. a generally-rectangular upper lid member having a viewing hole
therein;
c. a transparent retaining member directly beneath said lid member;
d. a resilient display member, for holding items to be displayed,
between said retaining member and said container member; and
e. a connection means for supporting said retaining member directly
adjacent said lid member;
f. said connection means including mechanical means for attaching
and detaching said container member from said lid member.
2. The display case of claim 1 wherein said mechanical means
includes an inwardly-extending latch member.
3. The display case of claim 2 wherein said container member
includes a peripheral lip member constructed and arranged to be
supported from beneath by said latch member when said container
member is in an attached juxtaposition with said lid member.
4. The display case of claim 1 wherein said lid member includes a
vertically-disposed side member having a central portion which is
outwardly elastically deformable.
5. The display case of claim 4 wherein said connection means
comprises a pair of unitary longitudinal members disposed inwardly
and oppositely adjacent said lid member, each said longitudinal
member including a horizontal surface and a vertical surface, said
horizontal surface being permanently affixed to said retaining
member, and said vertical surface being permanently affixed to said
lid member.
6. The display case of claim 5 wherein said mechanical means
includes a pair of inwardly-extending latch members.
7. The display case of claim 6 wherein said container member
includes a peripheral lip member constructed and arranged to be
supported from beneath by said pair of latch members when said
container member is in an attached juxtaposition with said lid
member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to display cases. More particularly, the
invention concerns a small portable display case for displaying
jewelry and the like.
In a further aspect, the invention concerns a portable display case
of the type comprising a generally-rectangular bottom container
having a matching lid with a viewing hole therein.
It has been a problem in the past for jewelry salesmen and the like
to transport and show their products not only with safety from loss,
but also in a manner adapted to most beneficially and beautifully
display the merchandise to a prospective customer. Furthermore,
because of the value of the items in the display case, it has been
the prior practice that such display cases include positive closure
means, and such closure means have been of the type which not only
increase the expense of the case, but are a constant source of
inconvenience and irritation to the display case user when such user
desires to open and close the case. Such closure means, for example,
have included easily-lost pin members, etc. Also, because of the
necessity for maintaining the integrity of the basic box protecting
and displaying the jewelry along with positive closure means, the
range of materials and construction commonly used in the prior art
has necessitated inefficiency of manufacture and resulting
inordinate expense.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to provide a portable
display case for jewelry and the like which is not only adapted to
well serve the user in terms of display case integrity and optimal
promotional display characteristics, but provides also for the
solution of the other problems hereinbefore mentioned with respect
to the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to
provide an improved jewelry display case.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a
portable display case adapted to serve the user in appropriate
manners as hereinbefore mentioned in discussing the prior art.
Still another object is to provide a portable display case which is
economically inexpensive.
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a
display case of the above type which is convenient for the user to
open and close.
Even another object is to provide a portable display case which
allows the display of goods to be optimally visually effective while
maintaining the safety requirements of such display.
Yet still another object of the present invention is the provision
of a display case of the above type which is convenient and
efficient in its manner of operation, relatively inexpensive and
efficient to manufacture, and having a high degree of durability and
serviceability.
Briefly, to accomplish the desired objectives of the present
invention in accordance with the presently preferred embodiment
thereof, there is provided a portable display case for displaying
jewelry and the like having a generally-rectangular bottom container
member and a corresponding generally-rectangular upper lid member
having a viewing hole therein. A transparent retaining member is
supported directly beneath and adjacent the lid member and a
resilient display member for holding the items to be displayed is
situated between the container member and the retaining member. The
connection means for supporting the retaining member directly
adjacent to the lid member includes mechanical means for attaching
and detaching the container member from the lid member. Such
mechanical means includes an inwardly-extending latch member.
Further, the container member includes a peripheral lip member
constructed and arranged to be supported from beneath by the latch
member when the container member is in an attached juxtaposition
with the lid member. The lid member includes a vertically-disposed
side member having a central portion which is outwardly elastically
deformable. And the connection means includes a pair of unitary
longitudinal members disposed inwardly and oppositely adjacent the
lid member, each longitudinal member including a horizontal surface
and a vertical surface, the horizontal surface being permanently
affixed to the retaining member and the vertical surface being
permanently affixed to the lid member, and said longitudinal members
further including a pair of inwardly-extending latch members whereby
the peripheral lip member is supported from beneath by the pair of
latch members when the container member is in an attached
juxtaposition with the lid member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further and more specific objects and advantages of the present
invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art
from the following detailed description thereof taken in connection
with the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an artistic view in perspective of the preferred
embodiment of the jewelry display case of the present invention,
shown with parts in a vertically separated position;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the illustrated preferred embodiment of
the lower two members of FIG. 1, partially broken away;
FIG. 3 is an artistic view in perspective of the illustrated
preferred embodiment of the upper member of FIG. 1, with parts
exploded; and
FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the latch portion of the
present invention more specifically illustrating the details of the
latch construction and operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Turning now to the drawings, in which the reference numerals
indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, FIGS.
1, 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the construction of the presently preferred
display case assembly 10. With particular reference to FIG. 1, the
display case assembly 10 includes a bottom container 11, a resilient
pad 12, and a lid assembly 13. With particular reference to FIGS. 1
and 3, the lid assembly 13 includes lid member 14, transparent
member 15, and connectors 16 and 17. Connectors 16 and 17 are a pair
of unitary longitudinal members disposed inwardly and oppositely
adjacent lid member 14.
Connector 16 includes a vertical portion 18 and a horizontal portion
19. Similarly, connector 17 includes a vertical portion 20 and a
horizontal portion 21. Connector 16 further includes latch portion
22, which extends inwardly as shown. A similar latch portion 23 is
included in connector 17.
Lid member 14 includes, centrally located in the upper portion
thereof, a viewing hole 24, as illustrated. The lid further includes
four generally-vertical sides shown as vertical potions 25, 26, 27,
and 28. Lid member 14 further includes underside portion 29.
As most particularly illustrated by FIG. 3, transparent member 15 is
generally flat and horizontally situated and includes an upper
surface 30 and a lower surface 31. Similarly, resilient pad 12 is
generally flat and horizontally disposed and includes an upper
surface 32 and a lower surface 33.
As most particularly illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2, bottom container
11 is generally pan-shaped and its bottom includes generally-flat
upper surface 34. Bottom container 11 further includes peripheral
lip member 35 generally shaped in the manneer best illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 4.
The illustrated preferred embodiment of the display case assembly 10
of the present invention is most readily and preferably assembled as
follows.
The lid assembly 13 is assembled by placing transparent member 15
within lid member 14 so that the upper surface 30 of transparent
member 15 is pressed against the underside portion 29 of lid member
14. Next, the longitudinal connectors 16 and 17 are placed inside
and adjacent lid member 14 in opposed and parallel relationship as
illustrated. Longitudinal connectors 16 and 17 are then affixed, as
with adhesives, as follows. Horizontal portion 19 of connector 16 is
affixed to the lower surface 31 of transparent member 15 and
vertical portion 18 of connector 16 is affixed to the inside of
vertical portion 26 of lid member 14. Similarly, horizontal portion
21 of connector 17 is affixed to lower surface 31 of transparent
member 15 and vertical portion 20 of connector 17 is affixed to the
inside of vertical portion 28 of lid member 14. There results lid
assembly 13 as best illustrated in FIG. 1.
Resilient pad 12 is placed within bottom container 11, as best
illustrated in FIG. 2, so that the lower surface 33 of resilient pad
12 is resting upon the upper surface 34 of the bottom of bottom
container 11. The goods to be displayed are placed in a desired
manner on upper surface 32 of resilient pad 12.
The attaching and detaching of lid assembly 13 and bottom container
11 will now be described with reference to the drawings, most
particularly FIG. 4. Lid assembly 13 is lowered in position around
the outside of resilient pad 12 and bottom container 11. As lid
assembly 13 is lowered, it is seen that latch portions 22 and 23
slide along the outside of peripheral lip 35 until latch portions 22
and 23 reach the bottom of peripheral lip 35. The generally-vertical
portions 26 and 28 of lid member 14 are outwardly elastically
deformable at the generally-central locations adjacent latch
portions 22 and 23, thus permitting the described sliding movement
of said latch portions around peripheral lip 35. As latch portions
22 and 23 reach the bottom of peripheral lip 35, however, said latch
portions 22 and 23 are no longer supported outwardly by peripheral
lip 35 and it is seen that they then elastically "snap" into the
location illustrated by FIG. 4 to provide a positive closure of lid
assembly 13 and bottom container 11. Thus, the goods to be
displayed, located along the upper surface 32 of resilient pad 12,
may be safely viewed (although retained) through viewing hole 24 and
transparent member 15.
Presently preferred materials for use in the preferred embodiment of
the present invention include a clear plate of glass for the
material of transparent member 15. Resilient pad 12 may be composed
of a white Dacron fibrous pad. The other illustrated elements of the
present invention may be composed of a high-impact styrene plastic
material. In the specific design and molding of the plastic
material, the requisite dimensions to produce the result of the
present invention will be clear to those skilled in the art, as will
the dimensional and design requirements requisite in the manufacture
of lid member 14 to ensure adequate elastic deformation, as
described, of the generally vertical portions 26 and 28 of lid
member 14.
Lid assembly 13 may be simply and easily detached from bottom
container 11 merely by moving latch portions 22 and 23 in an outward
direction, as with the fingers, until the latch portions are clear
of peripheral lip 35, thus allowing the described separation of
parts, as for the purpose of adding to or removing the jewelry or
other goods displayed. It is also clearly seen that the resilient
nature of resilient pad 12 permits the closure of the display case
assembly 10 of the present invention without injury or destruction
to the goods displayed.
It is seen that the jewelry display case of the present invention
may be manufactured and utilized in a multiplicity of sizes, using
the same as taught herein. Even an inexperienced user may open and
close the jewelry display case of the present invention with ease.
It is now further seen that the efficient and compact jewelry
display case of the present invention is simple and economical in
construction and design and yet easily adaptable to its mentioned
needs and uses.
Various changes in the device herein shown for the purpose of
illustration will readily occur to persons skilled in the art. Such
modifications and variations, while not specifically denoted in the
foregoing detailed description of the preferred embodiment, do not
deviate from the teachings of the present invention and are intended
to be included in the spirit and scope thereof, and the scope of the
present invention is intended to be limited only by a fair
interpretation of the following claims:
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