Improvements in and relating to Window Show Cases.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Window Show Cases.
I, JULIUS ALBERT WILHELM BETHKE, of 16 Rathhausmarkt, in the City of
Hamburg, Germany, Tailor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in window-show-cases; and the object of
it is to provide means for procuring an endless variety of images of the exhibited
articles by means of mirrors forming the back-wall, and of reflectors laterally
arranged in front of the show-case in proximity to the window sash.
In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have illustrated in
the accompanying drawing a horizontal section of my improved show-case diagram-
matically representing a limited number of images of the articles exhibited in
the respective positions in which they will appear from a point of view in front
of the window.
The vertical back-wall of the show-case is composed of a plurality of mirrors a
angularly arranged one to the other, so that the images of the articles c placed in
front of the mirrors will kaleidoscopically appear in a variety depending up
the
upon
size of the angle at which the mirrors a are inclined to each other. In front of
the back-wall but on both sides of the same and opposite to each other, I provide
one or more polished surfaces or mirrors 6 reentering into the plane of the show-
case at an angle which permits to reflect the rays of the light to the mirrors a of the
back-wall so that the images of the articles exhibited more in front of the show-
case will appear in an endless variety but in a diffused manner, when looking into
the mirrors a from a point without the window. I am accustomed to arrange the
opposite lateral mirrors b at an angle to each other having its vertex directed
towards the front, and when employing a plurality of the same I interpose between
two mirrors b on either side, a reflecting surface or mirror a', in order to produce
clear images and to increase the effect in the eye of the observer standing in front
of the show-case.
The described arrangement of the mirrors or reflecting surfaces obviates the
necessity of exhibiting a great number of articles in the show-case as but a few
of them will raise the impression of an immense variety of exhibited articles upon
the observer standing in front of the show-case. This is of a great advantage
particularly for the exhibition of such articles, which would be injuriously affected
by exposing the same a longer time to the light. Especially those images of the
exhibited articles appearing diffused in the back-ground will produce such a
surprising effect, that the small number of articles exhibited in fact will be entirely
overlooked.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same may be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of the back-wall of a show-case formed by a number of
mirrors angularly arranged one to each other, with one or more lateral reflecting
surfaces or mirrors placed on either side and in front of the former at an angle
so that the rays of the light are reflected to the mirrors forming the back-ground,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In combination, the lateral reflecting surfaces or mirrors b the corresponding
opposite ones forming an angle having its vertex directed towards the front of
the show-case, with the mirrors a¹ reflecting the rays of light to the front of the

page_text: former and filling out the space between each two adjacent mirrors b, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this: 16th day of December 1892.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.