US2119700A - Dispensing and display device - Google Patents

Description

June 7, 1938. J BURGESS 2,119,700

' me A n Filed March 23, 1936 ffimmim Ma VZEIIIII" T vim 1N VEN TOR.

wmsw M/zaws Patented June 7, 1938 PATENT OFFICE 2419.706 nrsrsnsmc AND msrmy nnvrcs Jackson Burgess, Freeport, Ill., assignmto Burgess Battery Company, Ireeport, 111., a corporation of Wisconsin Application March 23, 1936, Serial No. 70,274

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination display and vending device for small objects such as flashlights, dry cells or other cylindrical objects of this character. It may also be used with an- 5 gular objects such as small boxes, cartons, and

the like.

It is an object of the invention'to provide a device of this character which is of such an open nature that the objects are clearly visible for display purposes.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such an open display device from which the objects may be removed one at a time from an opening therein, the arrangement being such ,1 that after the removal of one object another automatically takes its place until the supply in the device is exhausted.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of the character described in which any misarrangement of the objects or improper functioning of the dispensing operation can be detected by mere observation and corrected by a simple adjustment from the exterior of the device.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of the character described in which the remaining supply of objects is plainly visible at all times.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a device of the character described which may he stood upon a supporting surface or hung upon.suitable support, whichever is more convenient.

The single figure of the drawing is a perspective view of the display and dispensing device of this invention.

The device comprises an open framework of wire, although it may be composed of any suitable metallic rods, bars, strips, soldered or welded together, or of, wood strips, suitably nailed or gluedtogether, or of a plurality of plates or sheets of wood or metal cut away to form the open framework and suitably shaped and attached together. The preferred construction, however,

45 is of welded or soldered metallic rods or wires.

The framework comprises main top members l and II, bottom members l2 and I3 and side members II and l5. ;Side members I l and I may: be integral with bottom member l2 as 5 shown. The side members l4 and i5 each have a substantially vertical upper portion, a substantially horizontal lower portion and a curved intermediate portion connecting the upper and lower portions.

55 Attached to upper member ill and lower memthe other frame members.

ber I2 and extending therebetweenin directions substantially parallel to side members 14 and I5 are minor framemembers ii. In a similar manner 'minor frame members 18 extend between main top member II and main bottom member I3 and are arranged substantially parallel with Each pair of adjacent members I is composed of a single rod or wire turned at the lower end to form loops II, which loops are bent upwardly substantially at i right angles to form stops as will be explained hereinafter.

Members II are arranged in a row extending sidewise of the device and members l4, l5 and I6 are arranged in another row spaced rearwardly from members IS a distance equal to slightly more than the diameter of the small flashlight type dry cells 20 shown in the drawing. It is understood that the device is adapted for use with objects of other shapes, as stated heretofore, and that the frame members may be spaced to conform with the dimensions of an such objects.

Additional minor frame members 2| are attached between top member Ill and bottom member l2 and members 22 are attached between top and bottom frame members II and I3. Mem-' bers 2i and 22 are spaced apart a distance slightly more than the length of the cylindrical dry cells 20. Minor frame members 2i and 22 are arranged in'a row substantially parallel'with the other frame members and a short distance forwardly of frame members l4, l5 and l6.

. Considering the portion of the device toward the left side thereof as it is shown in the drawing, the frame members form an elongated compartment which is open ended at the top and closed at the bottom by loop I! into which the dry cells may be inserted from the top with their longitudinal dimension extending sidewise of the device. The dry cells are confined at their tops and bottoms between frame members 2| and 22 and at their sides between a pair of minor frame members I6 at the rear and a pair of minor frame members l8 at the front of the device. After each cell is inserted in a compartment it rolls or slides to the bottom of the compartment where it is stopped by loop I1. Each additional dry cell is inserted in a'similar manner and descends in the compartment until it strikes the preceding dry cell and in this manner the compartment may be filled to the top while the dry cells are maintalned'therein in a single row extending from the bottom to the top; v

Front frame-members I8 are shorter than rear 5 frame members 16 at the lower end of the device, and bottom main frame member I3 is arranged a short distance toward the top of the device with respect to bottom member l2. This distance is sufficient to permit the removal of one dry cell from the lower end of the device. After one dry cell has been removed the remaining dry cells in that compartment automatically descend until the succeeding bottom cell reaches loop I! and is stopped thereby. The curved slope of the compartment is arranged so that the movement is positive but not violent. In this way the removal of the dry cells may continue one at a time from the lower end of the compartment until the latter is empty.

Four such compartments are shown to be arranged in a single row in the device illustrated. It is obvious that any desired number of compartments may be provided in the same row, or a plurality of rows may be provided according to the arrangement which is preferred. The device illustrated has one additional compartment arranged centrally of the device and forwardly of the row of compartments described heretofore. Top frame member 23 for this compartment is attached to top main frame member II and bot- 7 tom frame member 24 for this compartment is attached to the lower end portions of minor frame members l8 and attached between top frame member 23 and bottom frame member 24 are longitudinal frame members 25 and 26 which are parallel to the rest of the longitudinal frame members and arranged to form a compartment adapted to confine a row of dry cells 21 therein. This compartment is adapted to receive dry cells of a different size than the dry cells in the balance of the compartments. Frame members l8, which are the rearward frame members for this last compartment, are formed from a single wire or rod which is bent upwardly substantially at right angles at the bottom end to form a loop [9 which acts as a lower retaining member. Longitudinal members 25 are shorter than members l8 and frame member 24 is arranged in such a position as to provide an opening at the lower end of the compartment whereby dry cells 21 may be removed one at a time. Dry cells 21 may be inserted at the top of this compartment and removed from the opening at the lower end thereof in a manner similar to that described in connection with the other compartments.

An additional frame member 28 is attached to frame members l4 and I5 and is so shaped as to form a foot which cooperates with the lower end portions of side members H and I5 to support the device in an upright position on any suitable surface. Top frame member In is provided with local upwardly bending portions 29 whereby the device may be hung upon nails or other suitable supporting means which will be engaged by the concave sides of the looped portions 29.

' The device is adapted primarily for use by dealers to display and dispense the contained goods to prospective customers. It is apparent that the open character of the framework of the device renders the objects therein plainly visible for display purposes. Furthermore, the dealer can at all times observe the remaining supply of the goods and the need for replenishment. A simple and effective means is provided for maintaining one of the objects at the opening of each compartment and available for dispensing to a customer. In the event that: one of the objects becomes turned so that it is wedged between frame members and will not move, it is a very simple matter to observe which of the objects is stuck and to adjust it through the open framework to the proper position, when it will move in the manner intended.

,The device is not only suitable for use with cylindrical objects but also with objects which are angular in form since the latter slide down the smooth metallic rods or wires substantially as readily as a cylindrical object rolls down the compartment. While the last remaining angular object in the compartment may not slide of its own volition to the bottom of the compartment when the last preceding object is removed, it is only necessary to insert a few additional objects when the effect of the steeper portions of the compartment causes the additional objects to push the first one to the bottom of the compartment.

While but one embodiment of the invention is illustrated and described, it is understood that the invention is not limted thereto but is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

' I claim:

1. A combination display and vending device comprising a framework open upon all sides, said framework being composed of spaced slender members so shaped and arranged as to form a plurality of elongated compartments, each compartment having a steep open-ended upper portion, a more gradually inclined substantially closed-ended lower portion and a curved intermediate portion joining said end portions, the lateral dimensions of each said compartment being such as to accommodate the objects to be displayed, a side of each said compartment being open at the lower end portion thereof for an area sufficient to permit the removal of one of said objects from said compartment.

2. A combination display and dispensing device comprising an open framework of elongated members, said members being arranged in a plurality of substantially parallel rows, said rows being spaced from one another, the spacing between the exterior rows being such as to accommodate between said rows one dimension of the objects to be displayed, the members of an intermediate row being spaced apart a distance such as to accommodate between said members a different dimension of said objects, said members comprising steep upper portions and more gradually inclined lower portions joined by intermediate curved portions, one of said exterior rows, at the lower end thereof, terminating short of the lower end of the other exterior row, some of the members of said second exterior row being turned substantially at right angles at the lower ends thereof, and members extending transversely of and being connected to said substantially parallel members for maintaining said substantially parallel members in said spaced relation, and means for supporting said framework upon a support.

3. A combination display and dispensing device comprising an open framework comprising main top, bottom and side members, minor frame members connected to and extending between said top and bottom main members, said main side members and said minor members comprising steep upper portions and more gradually inclined lower portions and curved intermediate portions, some of said members being arranged in two spaced rows to accommodate between said rows one dimension of the objects to be displayed, and others of said members being arranged between said rows and spaced apart to receive between them a second dimension of said objects, the members of one of said rows being turned at an angle at the bottom ends thereof to provide stops for said objects, the other of said rows, at the bottom end thereof, terminating at a point short of the bottom end of the first of said rows to provide openings for the removal of said objects from said device, and means for supporting said framework upon a support.

4. A combination display and vending device comprising a framework open upon all sides, said framework being composed of spaced generally vertically-extending, slender members so shaped and arranged as to form a plurality of elongated, generally vertically-extending compartments, and transverse connecting slender members for holding the longitudinal members in compartment-forming position, the lateral dimensions of each said compartment being such as to accommodate the objects to be displayed, each compartment having an open-ended upper portion and a substantially closed-ended lower portion,

a side of each said compartment being open at the lower end portion thereof for an area sumcient to permit the removal of one of said objects from said compartment.

5. A combination display and vending device comprising a framework open upon all sides, said framework being composed of slender, steeply inclined longitudinal members spaced apart to form a plurality of elongated, steeply inclined compartments down which objects may slide, and slender transverse connecting members holding the longitudinal members in compartment- Iorming position, the dimensions of each said compartment being such as to accommodate and maintain said objects in a steeply inclined row, each compartment having an open-ended upper portion for the insertion of said objects, and a substantially closed-ended lower portion, the upper inclined side of each said compartment being open at the lower end portion thereof for an area sufllcient to permit the removal of one of said objects from said compartment.

I JACKSON BURGESS.

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