Abstract:
A showcase is described. The showcase has at least a vertical side wall with an inner face and an outer face, and at least a horizontal upper wall, with a lower face and an upper face. The side and upper walls are both made of a transparent material and are fixedly fastened to one another at respective edges; the edges of the side and upper walls are shaped so as to comprise respective contact bands facing one another and glued to one another. The contact bands have two horizontal contact bands, one on the edge of the side wall, the other on the edge of the upper wall, and extending between an inner bound and an outer bound, wherein the outer bound is internal with respect to the outer face of the side wall. The upper wall rests horizontally on the side wall and the weight of the upper wall weighs directly on the side wall, without stressing the adhesive with which they are glued, ensuring the safety of the showcase; furthermore, the junction line between the walls is not visible on the side wall, since the outer bound of the contact bands does not reach the outer face of the side wall.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to Italian application MI2014A001391 filed on Jul. 31, 2014 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a showcase for the preservation and the display of objects, such as typically works of art, objects of cultural heritage or other delicate objects in museums, exhibitions and the like. 
     In particular, the showcase may simply enclose the works, preventing contact by persons or objects, or it may be such as to ensure the preservation of the works in a protected environment; here and hereinafter, by protected environment an environment is meant where the atmosphere is controlled, through the monitoring of one or more parameters including temperature, humidity, dust content, pollutant content, in order to maintain the foreseen preservation conditions of the exhibits, and in which access to unauthorized personnel is prevented to prevent theft or damage of the exhibits. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Showcases of this type must therefore meet requirements of various types, in relation to the preservation and integrity of the exhibits. Moreover, of course, these showcases have to ensure the best visibility for the exhibits. 
     Systems for making fixed parts integral to one another are therefore very important, so as to ensure the necessary strength to the showcase. 
     In order to improve visibility, showcase manufacturers seek where possible to use transparent materials—typically glass—for the showcase walls. In addition to ensuring better visibility of the exhibits, the extensive use of glass is often desired by showcase designers since the transparency of the material allows giving maximum emphasis to the exhibits. 
     Therefore, showcases have been developed with a base surmounted by a case formed by walls; the base accommodates all the necessary technical components to ensure that the environment within the case is protected and is thus normally closed by metal walls, which conceal all technical components from view; vice versa, the case walls are totally or partly made of glass for the above reasons. The technical components can also be accommodated in compartments extending vertically, especially in the case of showcases leaning on walls. 
     The case may be made of transparent material walls all integral to one another, so as to form a bell that is lifted from the base to access inside the showcase. Or, some walls (fixed walls) are integral to the base and to one another while one or more walls (opening walls) are movable, thanks to suitable opening mechanisms. 
     In order to make the fixed walls of transparent material integral to one another, it is normal to bond the walls to one another by means of suitable adhesives, along adjacent peripheral edges, often cut at 45°; these junctions are also known as miter-square junctions. 
     Thanks to modern adhesives, it is possible to ensure good stability and safety of bonding. However, it is sometimes possible that abnormal, unpredictable or unforeseen conditions may lead to a bonding strength lower than expected. This can happen for example because some abnormal and not necessarily detectable condition has occurred in the bonding step which can lead (immediately or maybe later) to a reduction of the adhesion between the glued parts. Or, it may happen that particular environmental conditions (in terms of temperature, humidity and exposure to light or to atmospheric agents) may change—worsening them—the adhesion features of a bonding over time, despite it was made to perfection. 
     In these cases, the showcase will be exposed to the risk of detachment between the walls, and thus of collapse. This is a risk that occurs mostly in the bonding between a vertical wall and the horizontal upper wall (ceiling), where the weight of the horizontal wall is relieved on the vertical wall through the adhesive, stressing it: in case of failure of the adhesive, the collapse of the horizontal wall right on the works in the showcase at the time of the collapse is immediate and inevitable. Clearly, therefore, it is a risk that, while minimum, should be absolutely avoided: in this case, in fact, instead of protecting the works on display, the showcase would be a hazard itself. 
     Also, in any case, even the best adhesives have a decay of their grip over time and therefore are only guaranteed for a limited time; when this time limit is reached, replacing the showcase is inevitable, although apparently still intact. 
     However, in the cases where it is desired to exclude any risks without giving up a showcase with transparent walls, cutting the edges to 45° is usually given up, especially for bonding together a vertical wall and the horizontal upper wall: the latter is glued on top of the vertical wall, leaving the edges simply straight, at 90° with respect to the faces of the walls; these junctions are also known as juxtaposed junctions. In this case, the weight of the horizontal upper wall does not stress the adhesive, reducing the risk of failure; moreover, when failure occurs, the horizontal upper wall is still resting on the vertical wall and therefore does not collapse on the works contained in the showcase. 
     However, while in a showcase in which the walls are joined at 45° the junction line between the walls is located at the geometrical edge of the of the showcase and is therefore substantially invisible to the observer, in a showcase in which the walls are joined at 90° the junction line between the vertical wall and the horizontal wall is lower than the geometrical edge of the showcase by a distance equal to the thickness of the horizontal upper wall. In this position, the junction line between the walls is clearly visible and can therefore constitute a disturbance to the viewing of the exhibits. 
     Therefore, there is the problem of totally preventing the risk of collapse of a showcase with glued walls but without introducing any visible elements that may disturb the viewing of the exhibits. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, the present invention relates to a showcase as defined in claim  1 . Preferred features are described in the dependent claims. 
     More particularly, a showcase according to the invention has at least one vertical side wall, with an inner face and an outer face, and at least one horizontal upper wall, with a lower face and an upper face, wherein the side and upper walls are both of transparent material and are fixedly fastened to one another at respective edges, wherein the edges of the side and upper walls are shaped so as to comprise respective contact bands facing one another and glued to one another; the contact bands comprise two horizontal contact bands, one on the edge of the side wall, the other on the edge of the upper wall, and extending between an inner bound and an outer bound, wherein the outer bound is internal with respect to the outer face of the side wall. 
     In this way, the upper wall actually rests horizontally on the side wall and thus the weight of the upper wall weighs directly on the side wall, without stressing the adhesive with which they are glued, ensuring the safety of the showcase; furthermore, the junction line between the walls is not visible on the side wall, since the outer bound of the contact band does not reach the outer face of the side wall. 
     Preferably, the inner bound is at the inner face of the side wall. Towards the interior, in fact, the presence of a junction line does not affect the features of the showcase, as is not visible to the view of an external observer. 
     Preferably, the contact bands further comprise two vertical contact bands, one on the edge of the side wall, the other on the edge of the upper wall and extending between an inner bound and an outer bound, wherein the inner bound of the vertical contact bands is located at the outer bound of the horizontal contact bands. Any adhesive present between the vertical contact bands is not stressed by the weight of the upper wall, which—as said—is resting horizontally on the side wall. The presence of the vertical contact bands increases the bonding surface and facilitates the correct assembly of the showcase, ensuring the precise location of the upper wall with respect to the side wall. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the outer bound of the vertical contact bands is at the upper face of the upper wall. This conformation, relatively simple in execution, is advantageously usable for vertical showcases, where the upper face of the upper wall is not visible to the observer: the presence of a junction line on this face creates no disturbance. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the outer bound of the vertical contact bands is internal with respect to the upper face of the upper wall. This conformation, more complex in execution, is advantageously usable for horizontal showcases, where the upper face of the upper wall is visible to the observer: the presence of a junction line on this face would be a disturbance. 
     Preferably, the contact bands further comprise two oblique contact bands, tilted by a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane, one on the edge of the side wall, the other on the edge of the upper wall, and extending between an inner bound and an outer bound, wherein the outer bound of the oblique contact bands is located at a corner of the showcase, between the upper face of the upper wall and the outer face of the side wall. The oblique contact bands have the main function of moving the junction line between the two walls to the edge of the showcase, at the meeting point of the outer face of the side wall with the upper face of the upper wall; in this position, the junction line is substantially invisible to any observer, completely mingling with the geometrical line of the edge. Preferably, the tilting angle of the oblique contact bands is 45°. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the inner bound of the oblique contact bands is at the outer bound of the horizontal contact bands. 
     In a preferred embodiment, provided with vertical contact bands, the inner bound of the oblique contact bands is at the outer bound of the vertical contact bands. 
     Preferably, the side wall and the upper wall are multilayered and comprise an inner panel and an outer panel coupled with each other. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the horizontal contact bands are formed on the inner panels of the side and upper walls. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the horizontal contact bands are formed on the inner panel of the side wall and on the outer panel of the upper wall. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the vertical contact bands are formed on the outer panel of the side wall and on both panels of the upper wall. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the vertical contact bands are formed on the outer panel of the side wall and on the inner panel of the upper wall. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the oblique contact bands are formed on the outer panel of the side wall and on the outer panel of the upper wall. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features and advantages of a showcase according to the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof, made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In such drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a showcase according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view on enlarged scale of a detail of the showcase in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of a of a showcase according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view on enlarged scale of a detail of the showcase in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of a showcase according to a third embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view on enlarged scale of a detail of the showcase in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a showcase  101  according to the invention, suitable for the preservation and display of objects. Showcase  101  includes a base  102  surmounted by a case  103 , which is formed with vertical side walls  104  and a horizontal upper wall  105 . The side walls  104  and the upper wall  105  are of transparent material, preferably glass. To allow access inside showcase  101 , one or more of the side walls  104  may be opening or the entire case  103  may be lifted from base  102 ; hereinafter, the side walls  104  referred to are those fixed to the upper wall  105 . 
     The side walls  104  are multilayered, formed each with an inner panel  110  and an outer panel  112  coupled to each other by a suitable intermediate layer  114 ; likewise, the upper wall  105  is multilayered, formed with an inner panel  111  and an outer panel  113  coupled to each other by a suitable intermediate layer  115 . The inner panels  110  of walls  104  have inner faces  116  towards the interior of showcase  101 ; the outer panels  112  of walls  104  have outer faces  118  towards the exterior of showcase  101 . The inner panel  111  of the upper wall  105  has a lower face  117  towards the interior of showcase  101 ; the outer panel  114  of wall  105  has an upper face  119  towards the exterior of showcase  101 . 
     The side walls  104  are fixedly fastened to the upper wall  105  at respective edges  120  and  121 , reciprocally facing each other. Edges  120 ,  121  of side and top walls are shaped so as to include respective contact bands facing one another and glued to one another. 
     In particular, showcase  101  includes first horizontal contact bands  122  and  123 ; the first contact band  122  is formed on edge  120  of each side wall  104 , while the first contact band  123  is formed on each edge  121  of the upper wall  105 . The first contact bands  122 ,  123  are extended between a common inner bound  124  thereof and a common outer bound  126  thereof, wherein the outer bound  124  is located at the inner face  116  of the side wall  104  while the outer bound  126  is internal with respect to the outer face  118  of the side wall  104 . 
     The first horizontal contact bands  122 ,  123  are both formed on the inner panels  110 ,  111  of the side  104  and upper  105  walls. 
     Moreover, showcase  101  includes second vertical contact bands  132  and  133 ; the second contact band  132  is formed on edge  120  of each side wall  104 , while the second contact band  133  is formed on each edge  121  of the upper wall  105 . The second contact bands  132 ,  133  are extended between a common inner bound  134  thereof and a common outer bound  136  thereof, wherein the outer bound  134  is located at the outer bound  126  of the first contact bands  122 ,  123  while the outer bound  136  is located at the upper face  119  of the upper wall  105 . 
     The second vertical contact bands  132 ,  133  are formed on the outer panel  112  of the side wall  104  and on both inner  111  and outer  113  panels of the upper wall  105 . 
     Thanks to the above structure, in showcase  101  the partition line between the side walls  104  and the upper wall  105  is located on the upper face  119 , therefore in a position substantially invisible when showcase  101  is taller than a person. Moreover, while showcase  101  looks substantially all glass to sight, its strength is very high and any possible risk of collapse is excluded due to the fact that the weight of the upper wall  105  weighs on the side walls  104  thanks to the flat support at the first horizontal contact bands  122 ,  123 ; even a possible failure of the bonding between wall  105  and walls  104  does not result in a collapse of showcase  101 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show a showcase  201  according to another embodiment of the invention. Showcase  201  includes a base  202  surmounted by a case  203 , which is formed with vertical side walls  204  and a horizontal upper wall  205 . The side walls  204  and the upper wall  205  are of transparent material, preferably glass. To allow access inside showcase  201 , one or more of the side walls  204  may be opening or the entire case  203  may be lifted from base  202 ; hereinafter, the side walls  204  referred to are those fixed to the upper wall  205 . 
     As with showcase  101 , the side walls  204  are multilayered, formed each with an inner panel  210  and an outer panel  212  coupled to each other by a suitable intermediate layer  214 ; likewise, the upper wall  205  is multilayered, formed with an inner panel  211  and an outer panel  213  coupled to each other by a suitable intermediate layer  215 . The inner panels  210  of walls  204  have inner faces  216  towards the interior of showcase  201 ; the outer panels  212  of walls  204  have outer faces  218  towards the exterior of showcase  201 . The inner panel  211  of the upper wall  205  has a lower face  217  towards the interior of showcase  201 ; the outer panel  214  of wall  205  has an upper face  219  towards the exterior of showcase  201 . 
     The side walls  204  are fixedly fastened to the upper wall  205  at respective edges  220  and  221 , reciprocally facing each other. Edges  220 ,  221  of side and top walls are shaped so as to include respective contact bands facing one another and glued to one another. 
     In particular, showcase  201  includes first horizontal contact bands  222  and  223 ; the first contact band  222  is formed on edge  220  of each side wall  204 , while the first contact band  223  is formed on each edge  221  of the upper wall  205 . The first contact bands  222 ,  223  are extended between a common inner bound  224  thereof and a common outer bound  226  thereof, wherein the outer bound  224  is located at the inner face  216  of the side wall  204  while the outer bound  226  is internal with respect to the outer face  218  of the side wall  204 . 
     The first horizontal contact bands  222 ,  223  are both formed on the inner panels  210 ,  211  of the side  204  and upper  205  walls. 
     Moreover, showcase  201  includes second vertical contact bands  232  and  233 ; the second contact band  232  is formed on edge  220  of each side wall  204 , while the second contact band  233  is formed on each edge  221  of the upper wall  205 . The second contact bands  232 ,  233  are extended between a common inner bound  234  thereof and a common outer bound  236  thereof, wherein the outer bound  234  is located at the outer bound  226  of the first contact bands  222 ,  223  while the outer bound  236  is internal with respect to the outer face  218  of the side wall  204 . 
     The second vertical contact bands  232 ,  233  are formed on the outer panel  212  of the side wall  204  and on the inner panel  211  of the upper wall  205 . 
     Moreover, showcase  201  has third oblique contact bands  242  and  243 , tilted with respect to a horizontal plane (i.e. with respect to the upper face  219  of wall  205 ) by a predetermined angle, preferably equal to 45°; the third contact band  242  is formed on edge  220  of each side wall  204 , while the third contact band  243  is formed on each edge  221  of the upper wall  205 . The third contact bands  242 ,  243  are extended between a common inner bound  244  thereof and a common outer bound  246  thereof, wherein the outer bound  244  is located at the outer bound  236  of the second contact bands  232 ,  233  while the outer bound  246  is located at an upper corner of showcase  201 , between the upper face  219  of the upper wall  205  and the outer face  218  of the side wall  204 . 
     The third oblique contact bands  242 ,  243  are formed on the outer panel  212  of the side wall  204  and on the outer panel  213  of the upper wall  205 . 
     Thanks to the above structure, in showcase  201  the partition line between the side walls  204  and the upper wall  205  is located on the corner of showcase  201 , therefore in a position substantially invisible even when showcase  201  is shorter than a person, who can therefore observe from above. Moreover, while showcase  201  looks substantially all glass to sight, its strength is very high and any possible risk of collapse is excluded due to the fact that the weight of the upper wall  205  weighs on the side walls  204  thanks to the flat support at the first horizontal contact bands  222 ,  223 ; even a possible failure of the bonding between wall  205  and walls  204  does not result in a collapse of showcase  201 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show a showcase  301  according to another embodiment of the invention. Showcase  301  includes a base  302  surmounted by a case  303 , which is formed with vertical side walls  304  and a horizontal upper wall  305 . The side walls  304  and the upper wall  305  are of transparent material, preferably glass. To allow access inside showcase  301 , one or more of the side walls  304  may be opening or the entire case  303  may be lifted from base  302 ; hereinafter, the side walls  304  referred to are those fixed to the upper wall  305 . 
     As with showcase  101  and showcase  201 , the side walls  304  are multilayered, formed each with an inner panel  310  and an outer panel  312  coupled to each other by a suitable intermediate layer  314 ; likewise, the upper wall  305  is multilayered, formed with an inner panel  311  and an outer panel  313  coupled to each other by a suitable intermediate layer  315 . The inner panels  310  of walls  304  have inner faces  316  towards the interior of showcase  301 ; the outer panels  312  of walls  304  have outer faces  318  towards the exterior of showcase  301 . The inner panel  311  of the upper wall  305  has a lower face  317  towards the interior of showcase  301 ; the outer panel  314  of wall  305  has an upper face  319  towards the exterior of showcase  301 . 
     The side walls  304  are fixedly fastened to the upper wall  305  at respective edges  320  and  321 , reciprocally facing each other. Edges  320 ,  321  of side and top walls are shaped so as to include respective contact bands facing one another and glued to one another. 
     In particular, showcase  301  includes first horizontal contact bands  322  and  323 ; the first contact band  322  is formed on edge  320  of each side wall  304 , while the first contact band  323  is formed on each edge  321  of the upper wall  305 . The first contact bands  322 ,  323  are extended between a common inner bound  324  thereof and a common outer bound  326  thereof, wherein the outer bound  324  is internal with respect to the inner face  316  of the side wall  304  and the outer bound  326  is internal with respect to the outer face  318  of the side wall  304 . 
     The first horizontal contact bands  322 ,  323  are formed on the outer panels  310  of the side walls  304  and on the outer panel  313  of the upper wall  305 . 
     Moreover, showcase  301  includes second vertical contact bands  332  and  333 ; the second contact band  332  is formed on edge  320  of each side wall  304 , while the second contact band  333  is formed on each edge  321  of the upper wall  305 . The second contact bands  332 ,  333  are extended between a common inner bound  334  thereof and a common outer bound  336  thereof, wherein the outer bound  334  is located at the inner face  316  of the side wall  304  while the outer bound  336  is located at the inner bound  324  of the first contact bands  322 ,  323 . 
     The second vertical contact bands  332 ,  333  are formed on the inner panel  310  of the side wall  304  and on the outer panel  313  of the upper wall  305 . 
     Moreover, showcase  301  includes third vertical contact bands  342  and  343 ; the third contact band  342  is formed on edge  320  of each side wall  304 , while the third contact band  343  is formed on each edge  321  of the upper wall  305 . The third contact bands  342 ,  343  are extended between a common inner bound  344  thereof and a common outer bound  346  thereof, wherein the outer bound  344  is located at the outer bound  326  of the first contact bands  322 ,  323  while the outer bound  346  is located at an upper corner of showcase  301 , between the upper face  319  of the upper wall  305  and the outer face  318  of the side wall  304 . 
     The third oblique contact bands  342 ,  343  are formed on the outer panel  312  of the side wall  304  and on the outer panel  313  of the upper wall  305 . 
     Thanks to the above structure, in showcase  301  the partition line between the side walls  304  and the upper wall  305  is located on the corner of showcase  301 , therefore in a position substantially invisible even when showcase  301  is shorter than a person, who can therefore observe from above. Moreover, while showcase  301  looks substantially all glass to sight, its strength is very high and any possible risk of collapse is excluded due to the fact that the weight of the upper wall  305  weighs on the side walls  304  thanks to the flat support at the first horizontal contact bands  322 ,  323 ; even a possible failure of the bonding between wall  305  and walls  304  does not result in a collapse of showcase  301 . 
     Of course, other configurations are possible, all falling within the scope defined by the following claims.