Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
I, FELIX EMILE MISTROT, of 34th Street and Avenue O, Galveston, in the
County of Galveston and State of Texas, United States of America, Gentleman,
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:-
My invention relates to show-cases and has for its object to provide an article of
this character of novel construction whereby the case may be readily knocked
down or taken apart for the purposes of storage and transportation, or for replacing
broken panes of glass, the said case being composed of a number of separable
parts which can be easily and quickly disassociated for the purpose mentioned.
The invention also has for its object to so construct and arrange the several parts
of the case that they will mutually brace and support each other.
To this end the invention consists in a show-case embodying certain novel
features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully
described, illustrated in the drawings and finally pointed out in the claims hereto
appended.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved knock-down show-case constructed
in accordance with the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the base of the show-case, also the several uprights
and panels.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the top frame of the case.
Fig. 4 is a reverse plan view of the same.
Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section through the complete case taken in line
with the corner posts at one end.
Fig. 6. is a similar view taken at a point intermediate the end and middle
uprights.
Fig. 7 illustrates in perspective detail views of the metal sockets for the
uprights.
Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of a modified form of top frame.
Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several
figures of the drawings.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates the base of the improved
case, which comprises essentially a frame 2 of any desired size, preferably
rectangular in form. The bars which comprise the frame have secured to their
inner adjacent edges cleats or rests 3, upon which the flooring 4 of the case is
supported. These cleats are located at a distance below the upper surface of the
frame 2 cqual to the thickness of the floor 4, in order to bring the upper surface of
the floor flush with the corresponding surface of the frame 2, which adds materially
to the attractive appearance of the case as distinguished from cases in which the
flooring is simply secured to the bottom of the base frame.
5 designates a series of corner uprights and 6 a pair of intermediate or central
uprights. A groove 7 in the upper surface of the front bar of the base frame extends
longitudinally thereof and passes through the plane in which the intermediate or
central upright is located, terminating at its opposite ends in vertical mortises 8 at
the corners of the frame. These corner mortises are preferably square and are

page_text: I
adapted to receive correspondingly shaped tenons 9, projecting downward from
and formed on the corner uprights.
In order to form a firm support for the tenons 9 of the corner uprights, metal
sockets 10 are provided, the same being preferably squared to fit within the
mortises 8, and having integral therewith plates 11, formed with screw holes.
Each mortise 8 extends entirely through the base frame and the socket 10 is
inserted therethrough from underneath, until the plates 11 bear against the
bottom of the frame to which it is then secured. At its top edge, the socket 10
is formed with notches 12, which register with the longitudinal groove 7 and
one or the other of the transverse grooves 13 at each end of the case, the
object of the notches being to provide for the reception of the bottom edges of
the glass panels 14 located in the front and ends of the case. The socket 10 may
also be formed with an aperture 15, through which may pass a screw for engaging
the tenon 9 of the corner upright and preventing the withdrawal of the same from
its socket. Similar metal sockets 16 are provided for the reception of the inter-
mediate or central uprights 6, said sockets differing only from those above described,
..in that they have rectangular bases whereby they conform to the bottom frame at
the points where they are used. The front corner uprights and the front inter-
mediate upright are each and all formed with a pair of vertical grooves 17, in
which are received the 'side edges of the glass panels 14. There being no
stationary glass panels used at the back of the case, the rear corner uprights have
only one vertical groove each, as shown. In lieu of the longitudinal groove 7, the
rear longitudinal bar of the base frame is provided upon its upper surface with
parallel beads 18 forming tracks upon which a pair of sliding doors 19 are mounted,
said beads being arranged at such distance apart that the doors may slide past
each other and at the same time not interfere with the rear center upright.
The top frame of the show-case corresponds in size to the bottom frame, but has
in addition thereto a central transverse brace or cross bar 20. This top frame 21
is mortised in a manner precisely similar to the base frame, and is also provided as
to its under-surface with longitudinal and transverse grooves 22, and 23, corre-
sponding to the grooves 7 and 13 of the base frame and also with beads or
tracks 24 corresponding with those 18 of the base frame. The uprights and glass
panels of the case are thus received in and bear the same relation to the top frame
as described with reference to the bottom frame, and the sliding doors are grooved
in their top and bottom edges to fit and slide upon said beads or tracks. The rear
corner uprights are also provided with beads 24ª, formed as continuations of the
beads 18 and 24, and entering grooves in the end bars of the sliding doors, when
the latter are closed. The side, end and central bars of the top frame are rabbeted
in their adjacent edges to receive horizontal glass panels 25, the rabbets being of
such depth as to bring said panels about flush with the upper surface of the top
frame. A cushion or packing 26 of rubber or other suitable material extends
around the panels 25, adjacent to their edges and receives the pressure of the top
finishing frame 27, of practically the same shape as the top frame 21, but having
its several bars made of sufficient width to overlap the edges of the panels 25, and
bear upon the cushions 26 for holding the glass against movement and rattling.
The top finishing frame 27 is held in place by means of screws or suitable
fastenings passing therethrough and entering preferably the tenons at the upper
ends of the several uprights of the case and thus serving to hold all the parts
together.
In lieu of the top frame 21 and the top finishing frame 27, a single top frame 28
may be employed constructed substantially as seen in Fig. 8 having the side and
end bars and intermediate cross bar, as shown, and all of said bars being grooved
upon their inside edges to receive the glass panels 25. The grooves in the rear
side bar of the frame are extended entirely through such bar, as shown at 29,
whereby the glass panels 25 are adapted to be slid through the rear bar and into
place, after which suitable filling strips 30 are fitted into the grooves or slots 29,
so as to prevent the escape of the glass panels. The frame thus constructed is

page_text: provided in its lower surface with stub mortises to receive the tenons at the upper-
ends of the uprights of the case, and screws or other fastening devices may be
passed through the said top frame from above and into the said tenons for securing
the top frame in place. Each of the sliding doors 19 is preferably composed of two
independent rectangular frames, the bars of one of the frames being rabbeted at
their inner edges as at 31 to receive a glass panel, the, other frame being then
secured to its mate and overlapping the edges of the glass panel in such manner-
as to retain the same in place. A suitable packing strip or cushion 32 may be
arranged in the rabbet in which the glass is seated for preventing the glass from
rattling and being broken. The top and side edges of the sliding doors are
grooved as shown for the purpose of engaging the beads or tracks on the top and.
bottom frames and the rear corner uprights as herein before referred to.
From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a very simple and.
convenient knock-down show-case is obtained, the construction of which will
permit a broken glass to be easily and quickly removed and replaced by a new
one without the services of an expert workman. In setting up the case, the base.
is first placed in a horizontal position and the corner and intermediate uprights are
then put in place by inserting their tenons in the mortises of such frame. The
glass panels are now dropped into the grooves in the adjacent faces of the
uprights and the sliding doors placed in engagement with the beads upon which
they travel, after which the top frame is placed in position and brought into.
engagement with the upper tenons of the uprights and the top edges of the panels
and also the sliding doors. After placing the horizontal top panels 25 in place
and arranging the rubber cushions thereover, the top finishing frame is applied and
secured in place, in the manner above described. An advantage of the improved
case resides in the fact that it is not necessary to remove the merchandise from,
the interior thereof in order to replace a broken pane of glass. The construction
above described adds very little, if any, to the expense over an ordinary case and
effects quite a saving in expense when replacing a broken glass panel.
Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be
resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages.
of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. A knock-down show-case, comprising a base frame, a top frame, and a
series of uprights interposed between said frames and provided with end tenons.
removably inserted in corresponding mortises in the base and top frames,.
substantially as described.
2. The combination with the base frame and top frame formed with corresponding
mortises, of a series of metal sockets arranged within the mortises of said frame,.
and a series of uprights having end tenons removably inserted in said metal sockets,
substantially as described.
3. A knock-down show-case, comprising a base frame and a top frame both of:
which are formed with mortises, uprights interposed between said frames and.
having end tenons removably inserted in the mortises thereof, the said frames and
uprights being grooved to receive glass panels, and a metal socket for each.
upright, the said socket being located within one of the aforesaid mortises and
provided with notches for the reception of the edges of the glass panels,.
substantially as described.
4. In a knock-down show-case, the top frame thereof provided as to its inner-
edge with a rabbet for the reception of a glass panel, in combination with a top
finishing frame overlapping the edges of said glass panels, and the cushions or
packing interposed between the panel and one of said frames, substantially as
described.
5. In a show-case, the combination with an open base frame, of cleats or rests.

page_text: arranged upon the inside of said frame, and a flush flooring supported thereon and
having its upper surface arranged in the plane of the corresponding surface of the
base frame, substantially as described.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.