(19)
(11) EP 0 709 049 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
01.05.1996 Bulletin 1996/18

(21) Application number: 95202733.2

(22) Date of filing: 11.10.1995
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6A47F 5/00, A47B 97/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
BE DE ES FR GB IE NL

(30) Priority: 25.10.1994 BE 9400960

(71) Applicant: ROTHMANS TOBACCO COMPANY B.V.
NL-1083 HK Amsterdam (NL)

(72) Inventor:
  • Coster, K.
    NL-2121 AA Bennebroek (NL)

(74) Representative: Ottelohe, Jozef RenĂ© 
Bureau Ottelohe J.R. Postbus 3 Fruithoflaan 105
B-2600 Antwerpen (Berchem)
B-2600 Antwerpen (Berchem) (BE)

   


(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).




Description


[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.


Claims

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.
 




Drawing







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