(19) |
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(11) |
EP 0 709 049 A1 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
(43) |
Date of publication: |
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01.05.1996 Bulletin 1996/18 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 11.10.1995 |
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(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
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BE DE ES FR GB IE NL |
(30) |
Priority: |
25.10.1994 BE 9400960
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(71) |
Applicant: ROTHMANS TOBACCO COMPANY B.V. |
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NL-1083 HK Amsterdam (NL) |
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(72) |
Inventor: |
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- Coster, K.
NL-2121 AA Bennebroek (NL)
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(74) |
Representative: Ottelohe, Jozef René |
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Bureau Ottelohe J.R.
Postbus 3
Fruithoflaan 105 B-2600 Antwerpen (Berchem) B-2600 Antwerpen (Berchem) (BE) |
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(54) |
Display case or display rack with a means for making the upper part of the case or
rack accessible by hand |
(57) The invention is for a display case or display rack with a means for making the upper
part of the case or rack accessible by hand and where the bottom of the display cabinet
or rack (1) is provided with at least one storage drawer (3). Said means consisting
of at least one step (6) provided on said storage drawer (3).
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[0001] The invention is for a cabinet provided with a means which does not occupy much space
and whereby the upper part of a relatively tall display cabinet or display rack can
be made accessible by hand for a person of average height, so that articles in that
part of the cabinet or rack can be arranged or removed without difficulty.
[0002] Relatively tall display cabinets with open drawers or shelves arranged at a certain
distance one above the other and provided at the bottom with at least one storage
drawer for the storage of articles, are known.
[0003] In order to reach the upper part of the cabinet one is obliged to make use of a ladder,
a stepladder or a chair. A disadvantage of this particularly in small shop areas is
that it takes up a relatively large amount of space and constitutes an inconvenient
obstacle in such areas. Another disadvantage is that the ladder, stepladder or chair
must always be positioned in front of the cabinet and put away after use.
[0004] In order to overcome this a display case according to the main characteristic of
the invention has been developed with a non-obstructive means of making the upper
part of the cabinet accessible so that it is within reach of a person of average height,
where this means means consists of a drawer provided with at least one step.
[0005] By way of example a more detailed description of a possible but by no means limited
embodiment of the display cabinet according to the invention is given below. This
description refers to the enclosed drawing where:
fig. 1 shows a perspective drawing of the front part of the display cabinet with the
lowest storage drawer pushed in;
fig. 2 shows a perspective drawing of the front part of the display cabinet with a
storage drawer slid out;
fig. 3 shows a perspective drawing of the same view as that shown in fig. 2 but where
the cover of the storage drawer has been opened.
[0006] In these figures it will be noted that the display cabinet 1 has several open drawers
2 arranged so that they are inclined forwards and downwards and which are arranged
at a distance one above the other in such a way that the articles displayed in them
are clearly visible. At the bottom the display cabinet 1 is provided with a storage
drawer 3 in which articles which must yet be displayed and sold are stored. Means
4 which facilitate the sliding inwards and outwards of the storage drawer are provided
between the sides of the display cabinet and the sides of the storage drawer. The
foremost space 5 of the storage drawer 3 is provided with a step 6 and the upper open
part of the storage drawer is provided with a cover 7 fastened at the back to the
drawer by means of a hinge 8, which cover forms a second step when the storage drawer
is open. The front edge of the cover 7 protrudes slightly beyond the front surface
5 of the storage drawer 3 and is provided at the bottom with a handhold 10 which enables
the cover to be opened or closed with ease. In order to make the step formed in this
way stable when a person mounts the step in order to reach the upper part of the display
cabinet 1, two or more supporting castors 9 are provided underneath the storage drawer
3 and close to its front surface 5 which roll over the floor when the storage drawer
3 is slid inwards or outwards.
[0007] It goes without saying that the form, the dimensions and the number of steps provided
on the storage drawer may vary.
1. Display cabinet or display rack with means of putting the upper part of the cabinet
or rack within reach of hand and whereby the cabinet or rack (1) is provided at the
bottom with at least one storage drawer (3) characterized by the fact that aforementioned
means consists of at least one step (6) provided on the storage drawer (3).
2. Display cabinet or display rack in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the fact
that the front surface (5) of the storage drawer (3) is provided with a step (6) and
the open part of the storage drawer (3) is provided with a cover (7) which serves
as a second step when the storage drawer has been slid outwards.
3. Display cabinet or display rack in accordance with claim 2, characterized by the fact
that the rear edge of the cover (7) is attached by means of a hinge (8) to the storage
drawer (3).
4. Display cabinet in accordance with claim (2), characterized by the fact that the front
edge of the cover (7) protrudes beyond the front surface (5) of the storage drawer
(3) and is provided underneath with a handhold (10) for opening and closing the cover.
5. Display cabinet in accordance with claim (1), characterized by the fact that supporting
castors (9) are provided underneath the storage drawer (3) and close to the front
surface (5) and which roll over the floor when the storage drawer is slid inwards
and outwards.
