A DISPLAY CASE WITH A VARIABLE BASE OF THE RESULTING FRAME

Abstract: A display case assembly with variable base of the resulting frame, built-up from modules (4), consists according to the invention in that the module (4) is constituted by module frame (2) and at least by one glass panel (1), the module frames (2) being interconnected with each other by identical intermodule connecting members (31) to constitute a form of the resulting frame (3) of the display case assembly, the module frame (2) is built-up from carrying frame sections (21) and corner connecting members (22), the carrying frame section (21) being rigidly connected by means of the corner connecting member (22) with an adjacent carrying frame section (21) and/or with an intermodule connecting member (31), to which is directly connected another corner connecting member (22) with a carrying frame section (21) of an adjacent module (4), the corner connecting member being a prism fitted on its vertical surfaces with grooves for latching of the head of a lock, which is situated on both ends of the carrying frame section (21) and/or of the intermodule connecting member (31), the carrying frame section (21) has a form of a prism with a length corresponding to the length of the module frame less the double length of the base of the corner connecting member (22), the intermodule connecting member (31) has a form of a prism, the glals panels (1) are rectangular, all their side edges are perpendicular to the plane of the glass panel (1), only one vertical side edge of each glass panel (1) is fitted with a seal (11), which is in contact with the adjacent glass panel (1), the upper and/or the bottom edge of the glass panel (1) is connected with the carrying frame section (21), being a component part of the upper and/or of the bottom resulting frame (3) of the display case assembly.

Description: A display case with a variable base of the resulting frame. Technical field of invention The invention concerns integrally glazed display case assemblies with a variable base of the resulting frame, which is pillarless and dustproof. Such display case assemblies are used above all for exhibition and museum purposes. The prior art of technology Commonly used are integrally glazed columnless display case assemblies, composed of glass panels having several various sizes and various edge design and various position of sealings. Such assemblies are characterized by a poor variability and a poor possibility of rearrangment in another configuration. Known are dismountable assemblies with a possibility of opening individual glass walls (CZ 281944), consisting of frames, whose one part is formed by a carrying section, in which is fitted, with freedom od tilting or shifting, an actuating member, providing for pushing forward of a supporting member, fitted with freedom of sliding on an actuating member. The push-forward supporting member is rigidly fastened to a glass wall. This concept has used several different size glass panels. For each assembly the layout of individual glass panels with defined dimensions, edge cutting pattern and seal position had to be defined in advance. Each of the panels is connected in different ways, depending on its position in the assembly, with a support section, whose form also depends on the position in the whole assembly. From this analysis it becomes apparent that it is difficult to reassemble from one display case assembly another one with a different plane geometry. Also the replacement of individual assembly parts is difficult owing to their various dimensions. Gist of the invention The said inconvenients are removed by a display case assembly with variable base of the resulting frame, built-up from modules, constituted by an upper and/or by a bottom module frame and by glass panels , consisting according to the invention in that the module is formed by an upper and/or by a bottom module frame and at least by one glass panel, the module frames being interconnected with each other by identical intermodule connecting members to constitute a form of the resulting frame of the display case assembly, the module frame is built-up from carrying frame sections and corner connecting members , the carrying frame section being rigidly connected by means of the corner connecting member with an adjacent carrying frame section and/or with an intermodule connecting member , to which is directly connected another corner connecting member with a carrying frame section of an adjacent module, the corner connecting member being a prism fitted on its vertical surfaces with grooves for latching of the head of a lock, which is situated on both ends of the carrying frame section and/or of the intermodule connecting member, the carrying frame section has a form of a prism with a length corresponding to the length of the module frame less the double length of the base of the corner connecting member, the intermodule connecting member has a form of a prism, the glass panels are rectangular, all their side edges are perpendicular to the plane of the glass panel , only one vertical side edge of each glass panel is fitted with a seal , which is in contact with the adjacent glass panel , the upper and/or the bottom edge of the glass panel is connected with the carrying frame section, being a component part of the upper and/or of the bottom resulting frame of the display case assembly. The side edge of the glass panel fitted with the seal is in contact with the vertical side of an adjacent glass panel or is in contact with a vertical side edge of an adjacent glass panel . In a display case assembly formed from the modules with a paralellipipedical base the wall width A of the glass panel is preferably determined by the relationship A = B + T -t t + 2t k , where B is the outer dimension of the module frame in horizontal plane running through the glass panel and the module frame, T the thickness of the glass panel t t thickness of the seal t k the design distance between the module frame and the glass panel . The modules with a rectangular base consist of at least two identical glass panels and at least of two equidimensional carrying frame sections and identical corner connecting members . The modules with a rectangular base consist of identical vertical glass panels and of equidimensional carrying frame sections and identical corner connecting members. The modules with a rhombic base consist of identical vertical glass panels and of equidimensional carrying frame sections . The surface of the glass panel can be curved and such bow-like glass panel is connected with an upper and/or a bottom curved carrying frame section . The display case assembly can open any of its vertical glazed walls by pushing forward and then by side-shifting of the glass panel over an adjacent vertical glass panel. This can be achieved in that in the carrying frame section on its whole length an actuating section is fitted with freedom of shifting or tilting, on the whole length of which a supporting section is situated with freedom of displacement, said supporting section being rigidly fastened to a displaceable vertical glass panel . The supporting section is pushed out from the carrying frame section and travels sideways with the panel along the adjacent supporting section. The display case assembly is pillarless and dustproof. The display case assembly consists of modules, a module having at least one upper or bottom module frame and at least one glass panel. The remaining sides of the module, situated inside the display case assembly, can be free. The module frames are connected with each other by intermodule connecting members. The glass panels are connected with the upper and/or with the bottom carrying frame section, being a component part of the module frame. The modular system according to the invention permits to get a maximum variability of the display case assembly with a minimized number of various glass panel sizes. The system of glass panel interconnection according to the invention makes it possible, in the case of module with paralellipipedical base and with a glass panel width A defined by the relationship A = B + T - t t + 2t k , to assemble highly variable display case assemblies. It enables to assemble from glass panels of identical sizes an inner fillet, an outer corner or a straight wall of a display case assembly. In the case of a constant module height with a square base only one size of glass panels, carrying frame sections, corner connecting elements and intermodule connecting elements is sufficient. So it is possible to assemble from an equidimensional carrying frame section, rigidly conected with a glass panel, using a unified corner connecting member and an intermodule connecting member, any display case assembly, composed of modules with a square base. In some versions the module frame inner parts can be completely left out. It is therefore obvious that the customer can build up from a minimum number of various elements, if only one glass height is used, a display case of any plane geometry. When using carrying frame sections, in which are inserted an actuating section with freedom of shifting or tilting, and a supporting section with rigidly fastened glass panel, any vertical walls of the display case assembly can be opened. The universal character of individual elements enables to easily modify the display case assemblies without the necessity of safeguarding the order and layout of individual walls in the assembly, and to replace readily any glass wall in a given assembly. Survey of figures Fig. 1 shows a horizontal sectional view of a part of a display case module. Fig. 2 shows a horizontal sectional view of a square display case module. Fig. 2a presents an axonometrical view of the square module. Fig. 3 shows a horizontal sectional view of a display case assembly, composed of square modules with details I, II and III. Fig. 3a represents an axonometrical view of a display case assembly, composed of square modules. Fig. 4 gives a horizontal sectional view of a four-module assembly with inserted inner glass panel and the details I, II and IV. Fig. 4a is an axonometrical view. Fig. 5 shows a detail of bonding the glass panel with the carrying frame section. Fig. 6 gives a horizontal sectional view of a display case assembly combined of square and rectangular modules. Fig. 6a is an axonometrical view of a display case assembly combined of square and rectangular modules. Fig. 7 represents a horizontal sectional view of a setup completed by arch-formed 30° frame and glass panel segments. Fig. 7a is their axonometrical view. In Fig. 8 is shown a horizontal sectional view of a variable partition wall with a possibility of interconnecting individual chambers. Fig. 8a is its axonometrical view. In Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view of an assembly composed of rhombic modules. Fig. 10 is a horizontal view of a pentagonal module. Fig. 10a shows an axonometric view of a pentagonal module. Examples of implementation The invention enables to form any display case assembly. The possibility of forming an outer as well as an inner corner/edge joint is shown in Fig. 1. Marked by dimensions are the width A of a glass panel __ and the outer width B of the frame 2. The panel is situated at a design distance t k from the frame 2. The glass panel 1 thickness is T and the seal JM. thickness is t t . The relationship A = B + T - t t + 2t k enables to compose any combination of unified modular elements. The axis intersections M of individual glass panels constitute a modular network. The distances m between individual intersection points M are given by a relationship m = A + t t . It is preferable when t k = t t . The alternatives I, II and III mark individual possibilities of connecting the glass panels. The alternative I is for an outer edge, II - for straight joint and III for inner fillet. Example 1 Fig. 2 shows a single-module display case with marking of the detail I - an outer edge. The frame 2 is rectangular in plane. At a distance of t k from the frame are positioned glass panels 1, one vertical edge of each of them being fitted with a seal _]___. The width A of the glass panel = frame width B + 2t k - t t , The thickness of the seal t t = = the design dimension t k and thence A = B + t k = B + t t . Each of the panels can be pushed forward and shifted aside in order to open the display case. Example 2 Fig. 3 shows a four-module assembly. The module frames 2 are interconnected in the edges between modular connecting members 31 The module frame 2 is composed of carrying frame sections 21., which are interconnected by a corner connecting member 22. The details I, 11 and III show a straight joint of glass panels, building-up of an outer edge and an inner corner. Dashed lines show pushing forward of a glass panel 1 and its shifting aside over the adjacent closed glass panel 1 Example 3 A display case can be built with a square plane from four modules, as shown in Fig. 4. To make the display case more rigid, when the load capacity should be increased owing to a heavy mass of exposed objects, one inner panel 1 is added to the peripheral glass panels 1. Individual module frames 2 are interconnected by an intermodular connecting member 3 .. The joints of the panels on outer edges are marked I, a straight joint is marked II and a joint of two peripheral glass panels with an inner glass panel is marked as the alternative IV. Example 4 Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of an upper and of a bottom frame section 2J_ with a glass panel 1. The bottom carrying frame section 21 is a part of the bottom module frame 2 and the upper carrying frame section 21 is a part of the upper module frame 2. A display case module cover 1_5 is connected to the upper module frame 2_and a display case module bottom 5_1 is connected to the bottom module frame 2. Inside the carrying frame sections 21 push-forward actuating sections 23 drawn by a solid line are situated, in the groove C of which supporting sections 24 are placed with a freedom of shifting along the longitudinal axis of the actuating sections 23. The upper and the bottom edge of the glass panel 1 are glued to the supporting sections 23. During pushing forward of the actuating section 23 , as traced by a dashed line, also the supporting section 24 with the glass panel 1 is pushed forward at the same time, being able to move sidewards in the groove C of the actuating section 23 or in an identical C- groove of the adjacent closed supporting section 21, as a result of which the display case module wall is opened. Example 5 Fig. 6 shows an L-plane assembly, composed of square and rectangular modules. As it may be seen from the figure, the inner parts of the module frames of individual modules can be left out, and the basic carrying sections can be directly interconnected by means of corner connecting members 21 and by meas of intermodular connecting members 31. The reference marks without dashes mark the elements belonging to the square modules, whereas the reference marks with dashes belong to the rectangular modules. The corner and intermodular connecting members 22 and 31 are identical. Example 6 Fig. 7 shows an assembly of rectangular modules with added arch-formed glass panels Y_. The panels V_ are a portion of the surface of a rotational cylinder, corresponding to a 30° segment. Said panels Y_ are connected with an upper and a bottom arched carrying frame by means of a section 2T, being an analogy of straight frame sections 21, or also with the actuating sections 23. and with supporting sections 24 , forming a rectangular module frame 2\ The carrying frame sections 2Y_ are connected over corner connecting members 22 with straight carrying frame sections 2J_ and with intermodular connecting members 33. Example 7 Fig. 9 represents an assembly built up from rhombic modules A__ The assembly is constituted by equidimensional carrying frame sections 2J_, glass panels 1 and intermodule connecting members 3 L A corner connecting member 22_ have the form of a prism with a square base and a corner connecting member 22 ' and 22 " have the form of a prism with trapezoidal base. Example 8 Figs 10 and 10a show a pentagonal module. It consists of equidimensional carrying frame sections 21, glass panels _\_ and corner connecting members 22 ' " in the form of a prism with a trapezoidal base. Example 9. Individual elements, from which various configurations of display cases can be assembled, can also be used for composition of variable glass partition walls, as demonstrated in Fig. 8. The walls are constituted by straight or by arched carrying frame sections 21, to which glass panels _\_ are fastened by glueing or over actuating and supporting sections or their arched analogues. The said elements are interconnected by means of intermodular and corner connecting members. Individual glass panels can be pushed forward and shifted aside over their adjacent panel. Also a panel eclosing the space of showcases, loggias or entrance rooms can be built from said elements. Individual glass panels 1 can be pushed forward and then shifted aside and arranged behind each other. Fig. 8 also shows joints II, IV and V. In the case of joint V two glass panels _\_ fitted with seals are pressed onto a third glass panel 1 opposite each other from both sides of the third glass panel _\_. Industrial applicability The invention can be used for the production of glass display cases for museum and exhibition purposes, in the building and furniture industries.

Claims: Patent claims 1.A display case assembly with variable base of the resulting frame, built-up from modules (4), constituted by an upper and/or by a bottom module frame (2) and by glass panels (1), characterized in that the module (4) is formed by a module frame (2) and at least by one glass panel (1), the module frames (2) being interconnected with each other by identical intermodule connecting members (31) to constitute a form of the resulting frame (3) of the display case assembly, the module frame (2) is built-up from carrying frame sections (21) and corner connecting members (22), the carrying frame section (21) being rigidly connected by means of the corner connecting member (22) with an adjacent carrying frame section (21) and/or with an intermodule connecting member (31), to which is directly connected another corner connecting member (22) with a carrying frame section (21) of an adjacent module (4), the corner connecting member being a prism fitted on its vertical surfaces with grooves for latching of the head of a lock, which is situated on both ends of the carrying frame section (21) and/or of the intermodule connecting member (31), the carrying frame section (21) has a form of a prism with a length corresponding to the length of the module frame less the double length of the base of the corner connecting member (22), the intermodule connecting member (31) has a form of a prism, the glass panels (1) are rectangular, all their side edges are perpendicular to the plane of the glass panel (1), only one vertical side edge of each glass panel (1) is fitted with a seal (11), which is in contact with the adjacent glass panel (1), the upper and/or the bottom edge of the glass panel (1) is connected with the carrying frame section(21), being a component part of the upper and/or of the bottom resulting frame (3) of the display case assembly. 2.A display case assembly according to the claim 1 , characterized in that the side edge of the panel (1) fitted with the seal (11) is in contact with the vertical wall of the adjacent glass panel (1). 3.A display case assembly according to the claim 1 , characterized in that the side edge of the panel (1) fitted with the seal (11) is in contact with the vertical side edge of the adjacent glass panel (1). 4.A display case assembly according to the claims 1 through 3, characterized in that it consists of modules (4) with a paralellipipedical base, a module (4) having a module frame (2) and at least one glass panel (1), and the wall width A of the glass panel (1) is defined by the relationship A = B+T - t t +2t k , B being the outer dimension of the module frame (2) in horizontal plane running through the glass panel (1) and the module frame (2) T the thickness of the glass panel (1) t t the thickness of the seal (11 ) t k the design distance from the module frame (2) to the glass panel (1). 5. A display case assembly according to the claim 1 through 4, characterized in that the modules (4) having a rectangular plane base consist of at least two identical glass panels (1) and of at least two equidimensional carrying frame sections (21) and of identical corner connecting members (22). 6. A display case assembly according to the claim 1 through 4, characterized in that the modules (4) with a square plane base consist of identical glass panels (1) and of equidimensional carrying frame sections (21) and of identical corner connecting members (22). 7. A display case assembly according to the claim 1 through 4, characterized in that the modules (4) with rhombic plane base consist of identical glass panels (1) and of equidimensional carrying frame sections (21). 8. A display case assembly according to the claim 1 through 4, characterized in that the area of the glass panel (1) is arched and that the glass panel (1) so shaped is connected with an upper and/or with a bottom bow-like carrying frame section (21). 9. A display case assembly according to the claim 1 through 7, characterized in that in the carrying frame section 21) along its whole length an actuating section (23) with freedom of shifting or tilting is inserted, on the whole legth of which a supporting section (24) with freedom of motion is fitted and is rigidly connected with an extendable vertical glass panel (1).

Inventors: LOUDA JAN, LOUDA, JAN
Applicants: LOTECH DESIGN SPOL S R O, LOUDA JAN, LOTECH DESIGN SPOL. S.R.O., LOUDA, JAN
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A47F3
IPC codes: A47B43, A47B45, A47B47, A47F3, F16B12