Counter for presenting and/or selling goods

• US 6,634,460 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vieler International KG
• Original Assignee: Vieler International KG
• Inventors: Hackenberg, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beauchaine, Mark J.
• Application Number:
  US09/913,251
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 186/52, 186/59, 186/38, 744/69, 744/901.5, 312/114, 312/138.1, 312/139, 312/139.1, 312/139.2, 312/140, 312/140.4
• US Class Current: 186/59
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2003/008 with pivoting front glass panel
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/007 Cases or cabinets of the counter type
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1091 with a gas spring E05F1/1292 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/416 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/204 for display counters

Abstract

The invention relates to a counter (10) for presenting and/or selling goods. The aim of the invention is to provide a means of displacing a module consisting of a system of joint mechanisms (22) which are associated with a glass pane (21) by means of fixing elements (23) between a closed position (20) in which the inside of the counter (13) is covered and an open position (20′) in which it is exposed. Said joint mechanisms (22) are mounted on the supports (15) of the counter (10) in such a way that they can pivot about a horizontal pin (18). In order to ensure that the modular unit is secure in the open position (20′) the joint mechanism (22) is provided with an extended arm (24) which has the swivel bearing (18) on its lower arm section. During the transition from the closed position (20) to the open position (20′), the center of gravity (27) of the module in relation to the swivel pin (18) moves to the opposite side (27′). In the closed position (20), the pane (21) is subjected to a torque which acts in the closing direction. In the open position (20′), a torque acts on the pane (21) in the opening direction. The pane (2) can no longer fall back out of the open position (20′) into the closed position (20) uncontrollably.

Claims

1. Counter (10) for presenting and/or selling goods, comprising a body (11) of the counter which has a support surface (13) for the goods,

with several (17) supports (15) which with their lower end (14) are fastened on the body (11) of the counter,

with at least one joint member (22) on each support (15) connected by means of a pivot bearing (18) with the support (15), projecting at the support end (16) and having securing means (23) for a glass pane (21) having correlated therewith several supports (15),

wherein the joint members (22) with the glass pane (21) fastened on its securing means (23) form a modular unit which is pivotable about a horizontal axis defined by the pivot bearings (18) between a closed position (20) covering the goods on the support surface (13), on the one end, and an open position (20′

) allowing access to the goods, on the other hand,

wherein the joint member (22) has an extension arm (24) which—

viewed in the closed position—

extends in the longitudinal direction of the support (15),

wherein upon pivoting of the modular unit from its closed position (20) into its open position (20′

) the center of gravity of the modular unit is moved from an initial position (27) located on one side relative to the pivot axis (18) into an end position located on the oppositely positioned side of the pivot axis (18),

and with a parallelogram linkage (80, 24) between the glass pane (21) and the body (11) of the counter which is comprised of a pivot arm (24) and a guide member (80),

wherein the one end of the pivot arm (24) and of the guide member (80), at a spacing to one another, are connected (88, 90) to the glass pane (21) and are movable together with the glass pane (21),

and the other end of the pivot arm (28) and of the guide member (80), also at a spacing to one another, are connected stationarily on the support (15) of the body (11) of the counter in a pivotal way (18, 89),

wherein

the course of the pivot movement (48, 49) of the glass pane (21) is determined by control members which are comprised of a force-loaded push member (70) and are guided along the support (15),

that between the pivot arm (24) and the push member (70) a linkage (64, 72) is arranged which converts the pivot movement (48, 49) of the linkage arm (24) into a longitudinal movement (75) of the push member (70),

and that the push member (70) is loaded by two independent forces (76, 79),

wherein one force load (76) acts in the closed position (20) of the glass pane (21) and the other (77) acts in its open position (20′

) onto the push member (70).

2. Counter according to claim 1, wherein the two forces (76, 77) act in opposite direction and—

during pivoting (48, 49) of the glass pane (21)—

phase-displaced relative to one another onto the push member (70).

3. Counter according to claim 1, wherein the push member (70) has two force storage devices (78, 79) correlated therewith,

that the push member (70) for engagement of the two force storage devices (78, 79) has two movable stops (73, 74) which, upon longitudinal movement (75) of the push member (70), are moved therewith,

and that for engagement of the two force storage devices (78, 79) on the support (15) two stationary stops (83,84) are provided.

4. Counter according to claim 3, wherein the two force storage devices (78, 79) are arranged in the support (15) above the pivot bearing (18) of the pivot arm (24).

5. Counter according to claim 3, wherein the two force storage devices (78, 79) in the relaxed state have an effective length (68, 69) which—

in the open or closed position (20;

20′

)—

is smaller than the spacing (66, 67) between the corresponding movable and stationary stops (73, 83;

74, 84), respectively.

6. Counter according to claim 3, wherein the two force storage devices are comprised of two coil-shaped pressure springs (78, 79) and that the push member is comprised of a rod (70, 71), wherein the rod (71) penetrates the interior of the coil of the two pressure springs (78, 79),

that the two stationary stops (83, 84) are arranged between the two pressure springs (78, 79),

and that the two movable stops (73, 74) enclose the two pressure springs (78, 79) therebetween and are located on the upper or lower end of the rod (70).

7. Counter according to claim 3, wherein the stationary stops are formed by the two oppositely positioned surfaces (83, 84) of a guide member (82),

and that the guide member (82) has a penetration (81) penetrated by the rod (71).

8. Counter according to claim 1, wherein the inner surfaces (85) of the profile of the support (15) themselves and/or guide members (82) provided thereat serve for longitudinal guiding (75) of the push member (70) or the rod (71).

9. Counter according to claim 1, wherein the linkage, on the one hand, is comprised of a tooth rack portion (72) on the push member (70) and, on the other hand, of a tooth segment (64) in the area of the lower arm end (25) of the joint member (22).