HINGE PIVOT ARM FOR A GLASS-FRONT MERCHANDISER

• US 20080174216A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hussmann Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hussmann Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Fogarty, Paul D., Bries, William E.
• Application Number:
  US11/624,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20080174216A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/138.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2003/008 with pivoting front glass panel
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/005 with glass panels
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/0246 for attachment to glass panels
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/06 Bent flaps
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1091 with a gas spring E05F1/1292 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/416 for counterbalancing

Abstract

A glass-front merchandiser that includes a case. The case includes a base that has a forward portion and a rear portion. The merchandiser further includes an upper case frame, a glass member, and at least one pivot arm. The upper case frame is coupled to the rear portion of the base and extends substantially above a product display area defined by the case. The glass member includes an upper edge portion that defines an axis of curvature and a lower edge portion that is supported by the forward portion. The at least one pivot arm includes a first end that is pivotally coupled to the upper case frame, and a second end that is disposed at an oblique angle from the first end. The second end is coupled to the upper edge portion of the glass member substantially orthogonal to the axis of curvature.

Claims

1. A glass-front merchandiser comprising:

a case defining a product display area and including a base having a forward portion and a rear portion;

an upper case frame coupled to the rear portion of the base and configured to extend substantially above the product display area;

a glass member including an upper edge portion defining an axis of curvature, and a lower edge portion supported by the forward portion; and

at least one pivot arm including a first end pivotally coupled to the upper case frame and a second end disposed at an oblique angle to the first end, the second end coupled to the upper edge portion of the glass member substantially orthogonal to the axis of curvature.

2. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 1, further comprising a clamp assembly coupled to the second end of the pivot arm to couple the glass member to the pivot arm.

3. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 2, wherein the clamp assembly includes a first clamp and a second clamp to receive the glass member, and wherein the pivot arm is configured to attach to the second clamp.

4. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 1, wherein the glass member is defined by one of conical glass and spherical glass.

5. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 1, wherein the upper case frame includes at least one support member having an hole defining an axis, and wherein the first end of the pivot arm is coupled to the hole to rotate the glass member about the axis.

6. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 5, wherein the pivot arm is defined by a substantially U-shaped body configured to freely rotate about the axis without impeding the upper case frame and the glass member.

7. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 1, wherein the upper case frame defines a first axis, and wherein the first end of the pivot arm defines a second axis and the second end of the pivot arm defines a third axis, and wherein the second axis is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

8. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 7, wherein the third axis is at an oblique angle to the second axis and an axis of symmetry.

9. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 1, wherein the pivot arm includes a bent end.

10. A glass-front merchandiser comprising:

a case defining a product display area and including a base having a forward portion and a rear portion;

an upper case frame coupled to the rear portion of the base and configured to extend substantially above the product display area, the upper case frame including a first support member and a second support member spaced apart from the first support member;

a glass member including an upper edge portion adjacent the upper case frame defining an axis of curvature, and a lower edge portion supported by the forward portion;

a first pivot arm and a second pivot arm, each of the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm including a first end pivotally coupled to one of the first support member and the second support member, and a second end coupled to the upper edge portion of the glass member, the second end of the second pivot arm disposed at a first oblique angle from the first end of the second pivot arm, and disposed at a second oblique angle from the second end of the first pivot arm.

11. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 10, wherein the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm are each configured to couple to the glass member substantially orthogonal to the axis of curvature of the glass member.

12. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 11, wherein the second end of the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm is each disposed orthogonal to the axis of curvature of the glass member.

13. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 10, wherein the glass member is defined by one of conical glass and spherical glass.

14. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 10, wherein the first support member and the second support member each include a hole defining a first axis, and wherein the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm are configured to pivot the glass member about the first axis.

15. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 14, wherein each of the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm include a substantially U-shaped body configured to freely rotate about the corresponding first and second axis without impeding the upper case frame and the glass member.

16. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 10, further comprising clamp hardware including a first clamp and a second clamp coupled to the first clamp to retain the upper edge portion of the glass member.

17. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 16, wherein the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm are configured to attach to the second clamp substantially orthogonal to the axis of curvature.

18. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 16, wherein each of the first clamp assembly and the second clamp assembly further includes a third clamp to secure the second clamp to the respective first pivot arm and the second pivot arm.

19. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 10, wherein each of the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm includes a bent end.

20. The glass-front merchandiser of claim 10, wherein the first pivot arm defines a left-hand pivot arm and the second pivot arm defines a right-hand pivot arm.