Abstract:
A show case, e.g. for displaying shoes or the like, comprises horizontal shelf plates ( 2 ) and tilted shelf plates ( 4 ). The tilted shelf plates ( 4 ) are pivotably supported and can be tilted upwardly. The pivots ( 40 ) and support elements of the tilted shelf plates ( 4 ) as well as the guide rails ( 44 ) of the horizontal shelf plates ( 2 ) are vertically displaceable in side plates ( 1 ) of the show case and may be locked in desired positions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention refers to a show case, in particular for displaying shoes or the like, comprising horizontal shelf plates as well as shelf plates tilted from the rear toward the front, said tilted shelf plates being disposed each above a horizontal shelf plate and supported by a horizontal pivot axis located in a rear area of the show case and being upwardly tiltable around said pivot axis.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Show cases with horizontal and tilted shelf plates as used in the past in the field of store architecture have impressive number of drawbacks. The confusing mass of shoes presented in pairs renders the customer his decision to purchase difficult, and, particularly if the sales facilities are difficult to survey, or in supermarkets, the danger of theft is increased. The solution as adopted in some instances, to display only one shoe of the pair, is not suited as a permanent solution because the sales personnel must spend a lot of time for procuring the second shoe of the pair from storage.  
         [0005]     The suggestion has already been made, to build a show case of the kind mentioned above. Such a show case makes it possible to place one shoe of a pair of the tilted shelf plate, and the other on the horizontal shelf plate underneath. A show case of this kind is disclosed in DE-OS No. 25 29 198. A disadvantage of this known show case consists in the fact, that the pivotably tilted shelf plate is supported on the horizontal shelf plate located below, in the region of its front edge. This makes it impossible, to select the slope of the tilted shelf plate independent of its distance from the horizontal shelf plate. On the contrary, the show case disclosed in DE-OS No. 25 29 198 has the disadvantage, that the distances between the horizontal and the tilted shelf plates corresponding to a specific slope is set once and for all, so that this distance must be selected considering the largest sized pair of shoes.  
         [0006]     A show case is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,722 to the applicant. In that prior art show case bearing boxes receiving the pivots fastened onto the side plates are connected in particular with the tilted shelf plates at the rearward areas thereof, said bearing boxes being disposed in lateral glued parts which may be provided, e.g. of wood or plastic, running perpendicular to the plane of the tilted shelf plate. This embodiment shows not only a particularly stable construction of the shelf plates, which, when wood is used, is also pleasing to the eye, but the application of the pivot bearing is rather complicated, because the bearing boxes are separate, distinct components that must be connected to the tilted shelf plates.  
         [0007]     According to one embodiment of the show case of U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,722 each bearing box is provided with an angled slot open toward the side and having one leg running perpendicular, and another leg running parallel to the tilted shelf plate, said perpendicular leg being open at its bottom and said parallel leg being closed toward the rear.  
         [0008]     It is an object of the present invention, to make improvements on the show case mentioned above, so as to avoid the previously mentioned drawbacks and, particularly, to make it adaptable in a simple manner of the conditions concerning availability of space, for example in a sales store. Another object is to build a show case pleasing to the eye.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The foregoing and other objects are attained according to one aspect of the invention by making pivot bearings of the tilted shelf plates integrally with the shelf plates themselves.  
         [0010]     According to one embodiment of the invention each bearing box and the tilted shelf plates are integrally formed from plastics material or from metal or of combinations thereof so that they may be manufactured e.g. by injection molding or casting in a one step operation.  
         [0011]     In order to prevent the shoes from sliding off the tilted shelf plates there may be provided retaining bars or ledges which may be locked in different positions on the tilted shelf plates. In such an embodiment the shoes supported on the tilted shelf plates abut with the front side of their heel against the retaining bar or ledge. These retaining bars or ledges according to one embodiment of the invention are inserted into grooves provided in the tilted shelf plates opening to the upper side thereof.  
         [0012]     Within the framework of the invention elastic cams may be provided in the leg of the angled slot of the bearing boxes running parallel to the tilted shelf plate for securely holding the pivot pin(s).  
         [0013]     Furthermore, provision may be made within the framework of the invention, to provide the horizontal shelf plates on their lateral surfaces facing the side plates with slots engaged by guide rails fastened to the side plates, which guide rails when engaged into the longitudinal slots do not only establish an appropriate mounting of horizontal shelf plates, but also allow horizontal adjusting of the horizontal shelf plates. This embodiment allows for a particularly secure and visually pleasing application of the horizontal shelf plates.  
         [0014]     It may be desirable not to provide for an unconditional possibility of tilting the tilted shelf plates upward for the purpose of making accessible the shoes resting on the horizontal shelf plates. If such be the case, there may be provided within the framework of the invention, lock bars or bolts disposed below the tilted shelf plates, each lock bar or bolt being retractable against the force of a spring from its locking position, in which said lock bar or bolt engages e.g. into a bore in at least one of the side plates of the show case.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     Additional details and advantages follow from the subsequent description of embodiments schematically shown in the drawings. The figures show:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1 a  perspectivic view of a tilted shelf plate,  
         [0017]      FIG. 2 a  sign to be attached to the front edge of the shelf plate of  FIG. 1 ,  
         [0018]      FIG. 3 a  perspectivic view of a horizontal shelf plate with guide rail,  
         [0019]      FIG. 4 a  section along the line IV-IV in  FIG. 1 ,  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  in a view corresponding to the view of  FIG. 4 a  different embodiment of a tilted shelf plate,  
         [0021]      FIG. 6 a  perspectivic view of a tilted shelf plate, a horizontal shelf plate and a side plate with three rows of bores in a position for ladies shoes and  
         [0022]      FIG. 7 a  perspectivic view of a show case comprising a side plate, a tilted shelf plate and a horizontal shelf plate in a position for gentlemen shoes. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]     In accordance with  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  6  and  7  in particular, the show case of the invention comprises horizontal shelf plates  2  and tilted shelf plates  4  disposed between vertical side plates  6 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  there are provided in the side plates  6  three rows  8 ,  10 ,  12  of holes equidistantly positioned to one another. In order to facilitate insertion of pins and the like in the holes (bores) in the side plates  6  numerals  14  are provided.  
         [0024]     As shown in  FIG. 1  each tilted shelf plate  4  comprises a plane topwall  20 ′, two plane sidewalls  22  and a curved frontwall  24 . On the underside of the topwall there are provided to series of rips or ledges one series of ledges  26  extending longitudinally and the other series of ledges  28   5  extending perpendicular thereto.  
         [0025]     In the sidewalls  22  of the tilted shelf plates  4  there are provided integrally formed bearing boxes  30  each provided with an angled slot  32  having one leg  34  running parallel and one leg  36  running perpendicular to the topwall  20  of the tilted shelf plate  4 . The perpendicular leg  36  is open at its bottom and broadens at its end region. The horizontal leg  34  comprisis cam surfaces  38  which produte inwardly and are elastically displaceable outwardly if a pivot is pushed by way of the slot  32  into its final position. The pivot may be a simple pin  40  inserted in one of the holes  10 ,  12  of a side plate  6 .  
         [0026]     In the top surface wall  20  of the tilted shelf plate  4  there is provided at least one slot  50  intended for receiving a retaining bar or ledge  52 .  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIG. 4  the slot  50  may be a simple slot or as shown in  FIG. 5  the slot  50  may be provided with a U-shaped profile  54  extending over the ontire length of the slot  50 .  
         [0028]     The retaining bar or ledge  52  of the tilted shelf plate  4  inserted into the at least one slot  50  in the top wall  20  of the tilted shelf plate  4  is intended to prevent the skidding of shoes  60 ,  70  off the tilted shelf plate  4 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  shows an identification or price plate  56  of arced shape which may be attached to the frontwall  24  of the tilted shelf plate  4  as indicated by the arrow  58  in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0030]     The horizontal shelf plate  2  as shown in  FIG. 3  may be a simple plate having slots  48  in its sidewalls  42  for receiving guide rails  44  which can be fastened to the side plates  6  by inserting pins  46  of the guide rails  44  into appropriate holes  8 ,  10  of the side plates  6 . It is possible to provide for longer guide rails  44  and for shorter guide rails  44 . Shorter guide rails  44  are primarily intended for the  FIG. 6  show case (ladies shoes). Longer guide rails  44  are primarily intended for the  FIG. 7  show case (gentlemen shoes and boxes on the horizontal shelf plates  2 ).  
         [0031]     The tilted shelf plates  4  can be turned each in the region of its rear end around a pivot pin  40  inserted in one of the holes  10  or  12  of the side plates  6 . The lower end position is set by means of support elements inserted in one of the holes  8  of the front row. It is easely seen that the lower end position of the tilted shelf plate  4  may be selected and will depending on the particular hole  8  into which the support element (e.g. a simple pin) has been inserted.  
         [0032]     However such support element may be inserted into a hole high enough to place the tilted shelf plate  4  into a horizontal position if desired.  
         [0033]     In as much as the slope of the tilted shelf plate  4  may be selected without regard to their distances from the horizontal shelf plates  2  located underneath it is possible to arrange the support elements in such a way that the tilted shelf plates  4  occupy in their lowest position a tilted position which has been selected.  
         [0034]     The show case of the invention provides for the second shoe  60 ′ of a pair mating with the shoe  60  resting on a tilted shelf plate  4  to be positioned on the invisible horizontal shelf plate  2  located below the shelf plate  4 . This represents an important advantage of the invention, because the distance between each tilted shelf plate  4  and its corresponding horizontal shelf plate  4  may be adjusted in accordance with the height of the particular model of shoe  60  to be displayed. If, at any time, the second shoe  60 ′ resting on the horizontal shelf plate  2  is wanted, the tilted shelf plate  4  is turned upward, rendering thereby the second shoe  60 ′ of the pair accessible.  
         [0035]     The horizontal shelf plates  2  may be pushed forward from their position shown in  FIG. 1  whenever the tilted shelf plates  4  are kept in their turned-up position, as e.g. in the event of a clearance sale. As soon as one show case is partially emptied, one or several of the tilted shelf plates  4  may be lowered again, so as to always impart the visual impression of full show cases.  
         [0036]     If it be desirable not to provide for an unconditional tilting upward of the shelf plates  4 , a locking device (not shown) may be provided for each tilted shelf plate  4  in the region of its front edge, which device in its locked position prevents the shelf plate from being tilted upward.  
         [0037]     In  FIG. 7  an embodiment of the show case of the invention is shown in which the storage space defined by the horizontal shelf plates  2  is used for storing boxes  70 ′ for shoes  70  which are displaced on the tilted shelf plates  4 . In this embodiment the horizontal shelf plates  2  are pushed back in order to provide for sufficient space for shoe-boxes  70 ′.  
         [0038]     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 4  and  5  in the side walls  22  of the tilted shelf plates  4  there are recesses  29  open the underside which allow an horizontal position of the tilted shelf plates  4  both for use of the show case of the invention for ladies shoes and for gentlemen shoes. In this case an additional pin is inserted into appropriate holes  10  in both sidewall plates  6 . These pins abut into the recess  29  and engage the sidewalls  22  in the region of the basis  27  of the recesses  29 . The basis  27  is aligned with the upper side of the legs  34  of the angled slots  32 .  
         [0039]     In order to facilitate and assist in selecting appropriate holes  8 ,  10  and  12  respectively when setting up the show case templates may be attached to the side wall plates  6 . These templates having markings, e.g. in the form of holes/slots, that identify the holes into which pins far the tilted shelf plates  4  and for the guide rails  44  are to be inserted. Such templates can be provided for arranging the show case for—ladies shoes  60  ( FIG. 6 ) 
        gentlemen shoes     ladies shoes with boxes on the horizontal shelf plates     gentlemen shoes  70  with boxes  70 ′ on horizontal shelf plates ( FIG. 7 )