Improvements in or relating to Show Cases and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as required by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 28th day of March 1898.
Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Nov., 1897-Accepted, 27th Nov., 1897
Improvements in or relating to Show Cases and the like.
We, JOIN STANSFELD PICKFORD, Engineer, of 20 Miranda Road, Upper Holloway,
and the NATIONAL. BAKERY COMPANY LIMITED, of Brewery Road, Islington, both
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to show-cases and the like its object being the construction
of the cases and their supports in such a manner that the former shall expose a
much greater "display area" than would be practicable with cases of the ordinary
construction. The improved show cases are advantageously applicable to the
display of biscuits, confectionery, and draper's goods, but may be employed for
numerous other purposes.
A convenient construction according to this invention is one in which triangular
boxes faced with glass on two sides are retained between flanges formed upon a
support, in such a manner as to engage the corners of the boxes at the ends of the
third side, which preferably are constructed so as to constitute a dove-tail to be
engaged by undercut flanges.
The flanges on the support can be arranged vertically in which case the boxes
are supported upon each other with the exception of the lowest box which is upheld
by a shelf or bracket. The boxes or cases need not be triangular for they may
conveniently be of any form having glass faces on their exposed sides of greater
area than the rear portion presented to the support. The boxes may be provided
with permanent or removable glazing; or they may be made as shells with remov-
able show fronts, constituting shallow glass boxes adapted to be readily inserted
into, or withdrawn from the shell. Spring catches, bolts, bayonet joints or other
devices may be employed, to retain the show face in place, and where two or more
such faces are employed in one box they may mutually engage each other.
Series of cases of such forms as are herein before referred to may be placed
back to back, with a support between them, or their opposed rear faces may be
mutually engaged; or the rear faces of one series may be so shaped as to constitute
a support for holding the other series.
The rear face of a case of the kind described can be cut away or recessed so that
the case may be employed to conceal, encircle or be supported upon a column or
pilaster.
Rectangular boxes or other cases having glazed faces or show fronts on all
sides can be supported according to this invention by providing grooved supports to
engage with the angles or other parts at the opposite ends of a diagonal or diameter,
in such a way that all the glazed faces can be readily viewed.

page_text: The show faces before referred to may be slidden into a grooved support; they
may be placed back to back if desired so as to exhibit the goods at opposite sides of
the support.
Two or more series of flanges may be provided on each side of the support so that
the show faces placed therein will form an ornamental screen.
Improvements in or relating to Show Cases and the like.
We, JOHN STANSFELD PICKFORD, Engineer, of 26 Miranda Road, Upper Holloway,
and THE NATIONAL BAKERY COMPANY LIMITED of Brewery Road, Islington, both
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
66
This invention relates to show cases and the like, its object being the construction
of the cases and their supports in such a manner that in relation to the capacity of
the case a much greater display area "shall be exposed, than would be practic-
able with the ordinary form of construction. The improved show cases are
advantageously applicable to the display of biscuits, confectionery and drapers' a
goods, but may be employed for numerous other purposes.
The invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings of
which:-
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a front elevation and a section of a support for
show-cases, adapted to hang on a wall, with the cases therein.
Figure 3 is a plan of a standing support, with one tier of the cases therein;
Figure 4 is a perspective view, with the upper portion broken away illustrating
an alternative construction of standing support and show case to engage therewith.
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are perspective views of different forms of show-cases;
Figures 9 and 10 are sections on the lines 9-9, 10-10 of Figure 8.
Figures 11 and 12 are perspective views of an ornamental hanging frame.
Figure 13 is a perspective view of a hinged frame, for use on a corner of a wall
or for surrounding a column or pilaster;
Figure 14 is a similar view of a detail of Figure 13.
Figure 15 shows, diagrammatically, in sectional plan, a series of show cases and
supports arranged around a column;
Figure 16 is a similar view in perspective showing an alternative circular
arrangement of the cases.
Figure 17 is a view of two triangular show-cases with recessed backs to encircle
a column.
Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is an elevation, and Figure 2 a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,
of a hanging support, adapted for the triangular frames and show-faces, described
in the Specification of British Patent No. 15838 dated 17th July 1896, granted to
us, though equally adapted for the show cases herein described.
The support comprises a back or frame work A of wood or other suitable material,
having formed with it, or fixed to it, flanges A¹ or under-cut beadings which engage
two end corners a or side flanges a¹ of the cases or frames B. The support, as
shown in Figures 1 and 2, is adapted to hold four boxes the lower tier resting on
the ledge or shelf A³, the upper tier on the tops B' of the cases beneath them.

page_text: Eyes A³ or other devices may be provided to hang the support on a wall, or it may
be provided with rear legs like an easel to enable it stand on the floor.
Although as shown the support holds four cases it is evident that it may be
constructed for only one, or any larger number of cases, placed either side by side
or one above the other.
Instead of running vertically the flanges or beadings A' may be otherwise
disposed; for instance they may be placed horizontally in which case the shelf or
bracket A may be dispensed with.
The back or frame A may be provided with feet and beadings A¹ placed on both
its sides, so as to form a standing support or ornamental screen, displaying goods
on both its sides; or the back A may be dispensed with as shown in Figure 3,
recesses to receive the angles or flanges of the cases being formed in bars A' sup-
ported by a base A3 and having feet A. In Figure 3 this support is shown fitted
with a triangular case on one side and on the other with hinged show-faces of the
kind described in tho aforesaid specification of prior Letters Patent but it would
be equally adapted for two sets of hinged show faces or two triangular cases or for
a rectangular case having glazed fronts or show faces on all sides, which would be
engaged by the angles at the end of its diagonal.
In the construction illustrated in Figure 4 the bars A' are vertical columns
which may be rectangular as shown or of any other convenient form in cross section,
and either solid or hollow, the cases for use therewith having channelled sides as
at B I suitably shaped to receive or fit and engage the vertical bars in the manner
illustrate.l.
A convenient form of case for use with flanged or channelled supports is a
triangular box B as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5, having two glass panels B³, and
being furnished with a door in the back or otherwise as found most convenient.
In positions where space is of importance and projections objectionable as in a
comparatively narrow passage or the like, the apex of the front angle of the case
may be cut off, giving the case three gluss panels or sides as shown in Figure 6, or
to still further lessen the projection the case may be made quite shallow from back
to front so as to form merely a show "face" of the kind referred to as distinct from
an ordinary " case "in the specification of the aforesaid prior Letters Patent and
having only one glass face parallel with the back.
A convenient construction of the forin last mentioned is shown in Figure 7. The
case B, has shallow bevelled sides B³ turned over to form the side edgings B of the
frame for the glass front B³. The edgings B are preferably double to form a
groove to hold the glass in position. The flat bottom B is turned up in front, to
form the bottom edging Be for the glass frame, and behind, at B' to receive the
back B8, which is formed in one piece and runs in side grooves B³ preferably
formed by bending over the sides 13. The back B is bent over at right angles
to form the top B₁ of the case, and a second bend is made at right angles with the
top to form the upper edging 1310 for the glass front. The edging 1310 is con-
veniently made fairly deep, as shown, to receive the name of the goods displayed
or of their maker.
To stiffen the case a strip B" connects the tops of the bevelled sides B³.
It is evident that this form of construction could be applied to the show cases
with bevelled edges described in our British Specification No. 15838 of 1896 before
referred to, the position of the glass front and of the back of the construction
illustrated by Figure 7 being in such instance reversed. In this case instead of
forming the edgings B so as to constitute a groove to receive the glass, this may be
held in position by the bevelled sides B3 only, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. This
form of show case is applicable for use in the supports hereinafter described, and
shown in Figures 11, 12, 15, and 16.
Figures 11 and 12 are perspective views front and back respectively of a hanging
support, of an ornamental character, arranged to fold into small compass when not
in use. The frame A, adapted to hold three tiers of show faces is formed with

page_text: under-cut beadings A to engage the corners of the show faces B, two tiers of
which are shown in position the third being omitted. The bracket A² and its
support A are hinged to the bottom of the frame A, so as to fold flat against it
when not in use. The top is formed of two pieces (" ( joined by hinges C and
is fastened to the frame A by hooks A which catch in eyes in the plates C',
engaged in slots in the frame A as shown in Figure 12.
A beading A grooved at the back to fit the front edge of the show faces is
held in holes in the bracket A* and top C and forms an ornamental front to the
frame. This beading may be omitted if desired, in which case when show faces,
such as are shown in Fig. 12 are used, these must be hinged together at their
meeting angles as indicated at b in Fig. 3.
To enable the show faces or cases to be inserted or withdrawn the top is removed
from the frame by disengaging the hooks A and plates (".
When holding show faces such as are shown in Fig. 12 the frame A may be cut
away or recessed so that the show faces may be employed to cover the corner of
a wall, to partly encircle a column, or cover portions of a pilaster, and by employ-
ing two or more of such frames a column or pilaster may be completely encircled
or concealed. The same result may be obtained by connecting together with
hinges, two or more supports as shown in Fig. 13, in which two frames A A, with
the under-cut beadings or flanges A', to engage the show cases, are hinged together
at 1. Each frame may if desired be fitted with an ornamental top As and a remov-
able brading A (one of which latter is shown separate from its frame by Fig. 11)
preferably secured by two eye-bolts A". One of the eye-bolts passes through a
lot A in the name A and the other may be secured in a backward extension A
of the leading which engages in a recess A in the edge of the trame. The
bolts may be secured by hooks A or other device. When valuable goods are
displayed or the show frame is in an exposed position it may be desirable to use a
padlock to secure one of the hooks of the heading, or to use other means to prevent
the unauthorised removal from the frame A of any of the show-faces.
Each of the frames shown hinged together in Fig. 133 constitutes alone a com-
plete frame, and it is evident may be used singly for display purposes. When two
frames are connected together as shown in Fig. 13 they are conveniently adapted
for covering a corner of a wall or of a pilaster, and a series of three four or more
frames may be connected so as to completely encircle a column of any size.
In Fig. 13 the frames are shown holding show faces such as are shown in Fig. 7
but they are equally adapted for the cases shown in Figs. 5 and 6. It is evident
also that by placing the under-cut headings A¹ on the back of the frame show cases
could be employed of the form shown in Fig. 8. A series of frames, fitted with
such cases, and arranged round a column is shown, in diagrammatic sectional plan,
in Fig. 15. The column E is encircled by six frames connected together at D),
preferably by hinges. Each frame A has under-cut beadings A¹ engaging the
angles of show cases B having glass fronts Bs and ordinary backs 138. The opposite
or meeting ends of the first and last frames of the series folded about the columın
can be connected in any convenient manner, as by a staple and padlock or hook
and eye.
Instead of each frame being pivotally or movably connected with its neighbours
as at 1), two three or more of the frames may be rigidly connected together and the
divisions of the series secured if necessary in any convenient manner; for instance
the undercut beadings A can be arranged in one plane, and held at top and
bottom by a suitable support so that the show cases B inserted between them will
constitute a flat screen. An ornamental top may be provided to engage in this
frane, and impart a finish to the screen thus produced.
Alternatively the frames may be permanently fixed to a column, or the frame
may include, or be provided with an integral columnar central portion E of any
desired cross section as shown in Figure 16 upon which uprights A" of wood or
motal, preferably though not necessarily with flanges A³, are formed or fastened

page_text: to receive cases such as are shown in Figure 8 between them. A convenient
method of attaching the uprights A to the central portion of the support or frame
would be to form the uprights with bases or flanges A screwed or attached to the
central portion E as indicated in the drawing, but the uprights A might be
otherwise formed and otherwise attached to the central portion of the support.
Preferably the uprights are connected by cross bars or beadings As and they may
be supplied with a movable circular top, cap or cover one half of which is indicated
in dotted lines at A which may have a flange A" if desired, to hold in the show
cases immediately beneath it. The device may also have a base such as A18, flanged
as at A to engage the show-cases or left plain, as desired.
Although shown in Figure 15 as surrounding a hexagonal column, and in
Figure 16 with a circular column or central portion it is evident that the series
of frames as shown in Figure 15 might be placed on a floor without any column
or the like within the series.
Figure 17 shows an example of two triangular show cases with their backs
recessed so that they encircle and conceal a column. These cases may be simply
placed in position as shown in the figure, or they may be hinged together, or they
inay if desired be supported in frames of the kind hereinbefore referred to with
reference say to Figure 3.
It is to be clearly understood that the novel forms of show case hereinbefore
described, although advantageous for use with supports such as are above referred
to may be used alone for the exhibition of goods without any support.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The combination of a show case or the like and a support both so shaped as
to mutually engage substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. A support for show cases or the like comprising bars, frames or the like
having flanges, grooves or recesses to engage and retain the show cases substantially
as described.
3. A support for show cases or the like comprising a backing such as A and
flanges, undercut portions or beadings such as A¹ for the purpose described.
4. A support for show cases or the like comprising a series of two or more frames
such as A movably or immovably connected together and having flanges undercut
portions or beadings such as A' substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. A support for show cases or the like comprising a column or standard having
flanged or other radial projections formed to retain show cases between them.
6. A support for show cases or the like comprising end portions such as A A
or a cap or cover and base between which removable show cases are secured,
substantially as described.
7. A support for show cases or the like comprising a backing or frame A having
flanges such as A¹ a hinged bracket A3 A5, folding top and a front member A
substantially as and for the purpose described.
8. A triangular show case such as B with two or more glass panels or sides
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figure 5 of the accom-
panying drawings.
9. A show case comprising a transparent panel or side and opaque back and
having two of its sides bevelled so as to form acute angles with the back.
10. A show case provided with a flange or flanges to engage a support of the kind
hereinbefore described.
11. A show case with channelled sides to engage supporting rods tubes or the
like substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in Figure 4 of
the accompanying drawings.
12. A show case with the back or other portions recessed or otherwise formed to

page_text: receive a column, bar standard or the like substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated in Figure 17 of the accompanying drawings.
13. A support for show cases or the like substantially as described and illustrated
in Figures 1 and 2 or in Figure 3 or in Figure 4 or in Figures 11 and 12 or in
Figures 13 and 14 or in Figure 15 or in Figure 16 of the accompanying drawings.
14. The show case or box substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 5
or Figure 6 or Figures 7, 8 and 9 or Figure 17 of the accompanying drawings.
15. The combination with a support of the kind described of two show cases
hinged together substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 3 of the
accompanying drawings.
. 001