[0001] This invention relates to a corner display counter, in particular a refrigerated
display window counter, being of a type which comprises:
a load-bearing structure,
at least one pair of uprights having a longitudinal main spread direction and one
end attached to the load-bearing structure, and carrying a respective hinge at the
opposite end,
said hinge including a first hinge member attached to a respective upright and
articulated to a second hinge member for pivotal movement about a predetermined axis,
an openable display window so attached to said second hinge members as to be swingable
on said uprights about said axis toward and away from an open position, and
elastic means acting between at least one of the uprights and the display window
to urge the display window toward said open position.
[0002] Display counters with the construction outlined above are known from the production
line of this Applicant.
[0003] Such counters are usually fabricated in the form of modular assembly elements adapted
to be laid side-by-side with other modular elements into a desired layout; or to be
fitted with respective lateral sides and used separately, as desired. The term "corner
display counter" as used herein encompasses both corner modular elements as used to
assemble composite construction counters and the same elements as fitted with lateral
sides and used separately.
[0004] Composite construction display counters may include straight modules and corner modules;
with the latter being either of the so-called open corner or closed corner type, these
definitions being applicable to corner modules of a counter having a concave, respectively
convex, front on their customer side.
[0005] In accordance with the prior art, corner counters usually have, on their customer
side, a display window with several glass panes, some of which are openable and some
fixedly mounted. The need for plural glass panes, some of which are mounted not to
be openable, is dictated by the current design of the hinges whereby the glass panes
are attached; where possible, for swinging movement to respective ones of the counter
uprights. The constructions of the counter and the hinges are such that the hinge
axis about which each glass pane can be swung will lie substantially perpendicularly
to the corresponding upright.
[0006] Prior art display counters are usually provided, to facilitate swinging the glass
panes to an open position of the display window, with elastic means such as gas springs
which bias the display window to the open position by partly counterbalancing the
weight of the glass panes. These gas springs have longitudinally opposite ends provided
with respective eyes whereby they are pivoted to the uprights with one end and to
the glass pane with the other, e.g. at the location of the second hinge member. The
pivot axes of both ends are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the corresponding
uprights. For reasons that will appear obvious, such pivot axes extend parallel to
each other and to the hinge axis. Unless a separate pair of uprights are provided
for each glass pane, therefore, it is impossible for display windows extending at
a mutual angle to be both openable, even if they do not utilize the same hinge axis.
[0007] The technical problem which underlies this invention is to provide a corner display
counter which is suitable for use in both open (270°) angle applications and closed
(90°) angle ones; while allowing for hinge mounting on one upright two display windows
set at an angle from each other even where suitable elastic means are provided for
facilitated window opening.
[0008] Within the scope of this problem, it is an important object of the invention to provide
the corner display counter with a single full-span openable glass pane.
[0009] This problem is solved, according to the invention, by a counter as outlined above
being characterized in that said axis is set at an angle from a perpendicular line
to the longitudinal direction of the uprights, and that a feeler is pivoted to the
corresponding upright between the elastic means and the display window, which is associated
in articulated relationship with said elastic means and in either rubbing or rolling
contact relationship with said display window.
[0010] In accordance with such a technical solution the elastic means, especially where
consisting of a gas spring, may be accommodated within the upright, pivoted transversely
thereto, although the reaction point or the gas spring on the second hinge member
is liable to be shifted along a predetermined path during the display window opening
and closing, respectively.
[0011] The features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly apparent from the
following detailed description of two preferred embodiment thereof illustrated, by
way of example and not of limitation, in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of two refrigerated display counters according
to this invention;
Figures 3 and 4 are respective perspective detail views, drawn to an enlarged scale,
of the counters shown in Figures 1 and 2;
Figures 5 and 6 are a side elevation and top plan view, respectively, of the detail
shown in Figure 4 with the display window in a closed position;
Figures 7 and 8 are a side elevation and top plan view, respectively, of the detail
shown in Figure 4 with the display window in an open position;
Figure 9 is a side elevation view of a detail of the counter shown in the previous
Figures;
Figure 10 is a top plan view of a further detail of the counter shown in Figures 1
and 3; and
Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along line XI-XI in Figure 10.
[0012] Shown at 1a and 1b in the drawings are two modular corner elements of a refrigerated
display counter, being respectively a closed angle and an open angle construction.
Such elements may be used to assemble a composite display counter using a technology
known per se. The two modular elements, being each referred to hereinafter as the
corner display counter in the same sense as specified above, are identical with each
other in general concept. It should be understood, therefore, that they are made up
of similar parts except where otherwise specified.
[0013] Each counter 1a, 1b comprises an insulated load-bearing structure 2 having respectively
a display deck 3, a customer side 4 and a shopkeeper side 5. Standing up from the
side 5 of the load-bearing structure 2 are two uprights 6a (Figure 1) and 6b (Figure
2) which will be convergent on counter 1a and divergent on counter 1b in a direction
away from the side 5. Each of said uprights comprises two plate-like members 7 set
parallel apart which are connected rigidly together by spacers, not shown, and fixedly
attached with one end to the load-bearing structure 2 of their respective counter
1a,b.
[0014] Carried at the opposite end of each pair of uprights 6a, respectively 6b, are a lighting
device 8 for the display deck 3 and a display window 9 having a single arcuate glass
pane. It should be noted that, in accordance with the invention, the side 4 of the
load-bearing structure and the corresponding free edge of the glass pane forming the
display window 9 are straight opposite to the side 5 of the load-bearing structure
which has an angled configuration.
[0015] With reference to Figures 3 and 4, each display window 9 is articulated to its corresponding
upright 6a,b by means of a respective hinge, denoted by 10a for counter 1a and 10b
for counter 1b. Both hinges 10a,b have first and second hinge members 11a,b and 12a,b,
respectively, which are articulated to each other through a respective hinge pin 13a,b
having an axis Xa, respectively Xb.
[0016] The first hinge member 11a includes a wedge-shaped body 14 having two opposite faces
15, 16 which are tapered to converge toward the display window 9. The wedge-shaped
body 14 of the hinge 10b is identical in concept but tapered in the opposite direction.
The body 14 is secured, as by means of screws 17, on one of the plate-like members
7 of its corresponding upright, with the face 15 close against it. That face 15 is
formed with a step 18 for a purpose to be explained.
[0017] Extending at right angles front the face 16 is an arm 19, formed integrally with
the body 14. The hinge pin 13a is fitted in respective holes, along an axis Xa, which
are formed in the free end of the arm 19 and in the wedge-shaped body 14. The axis
Xa of such holes, and of the hinge pin 13a, lies perpendicular to the face 16 of the
wedge-shaped body, and hence, at an angle from perpendicular to the surface of the
plate-like members 7 of the corresponding upright 6a.
[0018] The second hinge member 12a (12b) includes a clamp 20 having jaws 20a,b which can
be clamped down by means of screws 21 onto the glass pane of the display window 9.
The jaw 20a facing the corresponding upright 6a is formed with two L-shaped parallel
grooves 22a,b. One of the two grooves receives either of two L-shaped lugs 23a,b of
a bracket 24. The unused lug in this mount would be removed by a machining operation
such as milling.
[0019] By providing the bracket 24 with the aforesaid two lugs, one of which can be removed,
and the jaw 20a with both grooves 22a,b, one of which is adapted to engage the lug
23a,b of choice, the advantage is secured that the configuration of the blanks from
which said components of the hinge will be formed can be standardized for both open
angle and closed angle counter applications. In fact, these two configurations of
the counter involve different relative positioning of the bracket 24 and the clamp
20.
[0020] Where the jaw 20a is formed, for example, by cutting from an extruded section bar,
that same section bar, when cut to a different configuration, can provide both jaw
types.
[0021] The bracket 24 is through-penetrated by a hole 25 in which the hinge pin 13a is engaged,
and by a further hole 26 through which a screw (not shown) is passed to engage a threaded
hole 27 in the jaw 20a, thereby securing the jaw and bracket together.
[0022] Finally, a plunger spring 30, of the kind commonly known as gas spring, or the like
elastic means, is received between the plate-like members 7 to which it is pivotally
connected with one end 30a. The opposite end of the spring 30 is attached pivotally
to a first arm 31 of a feeler 32. The feeler 32 is pivoted, in turn, with a second
arm 33 on a pin 34 having an axis Ya which lies perpendicularly between the plate-like
members 7 and carries a third arm 35 having a pad 36 mounted on its free end.
[0023] That pad 36 is in either rubbing or rolling contact with the confronting surface
of the jaw 20a. It should be noted that with the feeler 32 arranged to swing about
the axis Ya, which is non-parallel to the hinge axis Xa, the pad 36 will be shifted
along a path, schematically indicated at 37 in Figure 4, relative to the jaw 20a as
the display window 9 is lifted up, from the closed position shown in Figures 2, 5
and 6 to the open position shown in Figures 7 and 8.
[0024] In this way, the display window 9 can be hinged about a non-perpendicular axis to
the longitudinal direction of the uprights without hindering the operation of the
elastic means arranged to balance out at least part of the window weight.
[0025] It should be noted that, for convenience and economy of assembly, the pin 34 projects
with both ends out of the plate-like members 7, the jutting portion of the pin on
the hinge 10a,b side being received into the recess created by the step 18.
[0026] It will be appreciated that the structure disclosed above allows the uprights to
be mounted along incident directions without restricting the display window opening
movement. In addition, the uprights themselves are arranged to support, in an openable
manner through a conventional hinge, the display windows of any modular display counter
elements laid beside them.
1. A corner display counter, comprising:
- a load-bearing structure (2),
- at least one pair of uprights (6a,b) having a longitudinal main spread direction
and one end attached to the load-bearing structure (2), and carrying a respective
hinge (10a,b) at the opposite end which
includes a first hinge member (11a,b) attached to a respective upright and articulated
to a second hinge member (12a,b) for pivotal movement about a predetermined axis (Xa,b),
- an openable display window (9) so attached to said second hinge members (12a,b)
as to be swingable on said uprights (6a,b) about said axis toward and away from an
open position, and
- elastic means (30) acting between at least one of the uprights and the display window
to urge the display window toward said open position, characterized in that said hinge
axis (Xa,b) is set at an angle from a perpendicular line to the longitudinal direction
of the uprights (6a,b) and that a feeler (32) is pivoted to the corresponding upright
(6a,b), between the elastic means (30) and the display window (9), which is associated
in articulated relationship with said elastic means (30) and in either rubbing or
rolling contact relationship with said display window (9).
2. A counter according to Claim 1, wherein said feeler (32) is in either rubbing or rolling
contact with said display window through the second hinge member (12a,b).
3. A counter according to either Claim 1 or 2, wherein each upright comprises two substantially
parallel plate-like members (7), said hinge axis (Xa,b) being inclined from perpendicular
to said plate-like members (7).
4. A counter according to Claim 3, wherein the first hinge member comprises a wedge-shaped
body (14), arranged for attachment to a respective upright (6a,b), with two opposite
tapering faces (15,16), one of which is facing the corresponding plate-like member
(7) and the other of which is perpendicular to said hinge axis (Xa,b).
5. A counter according to Claim 4, wherein said wedge-shaped body (14) carries an arm
(19) extending at right angles from the opposite face thereof to the plate-like member
(7), said second hinge member including a clamp (20), clamped down onto said display
window (9), and a bracket (24), rigid with the clamp (20) which is received and pivoted
between said other face (16) of the wedge-shaped body (14) and said right-angle arm
(19).
6. A counter according to one or more of Claims 3 to 5, wherein said elastic means include
a plunger spring (30) received between said plate-like members (7) and pivotally connected
thereto with one end (30a), said feeler (32) being pivotally connected to said plate-like
members and said spring about perpendicular axes to said plate-like members (7).