US3660832A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for merchandising small mercantile items
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-03-19
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Granted: 1972-05-02
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Expires: 1990-03-19
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of display cases where each display case includes a door which can be moved from an open to a closed position and a plurality of separate compartments therein for receiving the mercantile items. A locking device is secured to each display case and each locking device is adapted to move into and out of a locking engagement with the door, such that the door may be locked in a closed position. A control panel is disposed remotely from the display cases and includes a plurality of lock actuating devices, each of which are connected to one of the locking devices in a display case, such that a particular lock actuating device can actuate the locking device in the case, thereby moving the locking device into and out of a locking engagement with the door; and a plurality of lock indicator devices, each of which is connected to one of the lock actuating devices, and is adapted to provide a visual indication that the locking device has been moved out of a locking engagement with the door.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas C Hoshall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:43
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47F; A47F3/00; A47F3/12; A47F3/125; A47F10/00; A47F10/02; A47F3/002; A47F9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
515 words
Apparatus for merchandising small mercantile items comprisiNg: a plurality of display cases, each display case adapted for displaying a plurality of the mercantile items, each display case including: a door, having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough in spaced apart relationship, said apertures being sized large enough to admit a human hand and small enough to prevent withdrawal of the mercantile item therethrough; a cabinet, having a plurality of sides, said sides being shaped to define an open end and a space within the cabinet, a portion of the cabinet generally adjacent the open end thereof being sized and shaped to receive the door, and to support the door such that the door can be moved from an open to a closed position, said cabinets each including a door position sensing means secured to the cabinet, the sensing mans being positioned and adapted to sense the door in one position thereof; plural means disposed within a portion of the space within the cabinet and supported therein, each of the plural means being shaped for supporting said mercantile items within the cabinet, the plural means being spaced a distance from the door, the space within the cabinet between the plural means and the door being large enough to permit one of the mercantile items to be grasped and withdrawn into the space for manipulation by a hand extended through one of the apertures in the door; locking means secured to the cabinet, and being adapted to move into and out of a locking engagement with the door; a control panel disposed among the display cases and adapted to provide a central control position for operating the several display cases, said control panel including: a plurality of lock actuating means, each lock actuating means being connected to one of the locking means and being adapted to actuate the locking means connected thereto to move the locking means into and out of a locking engagement with the door; a plurality of lock indicator means, each lock indicator means being connected to one of the lock actuating means, and being adapted to provide a visual indication that the locking means has been moved out of locking engagement with the door; a plurality of door indicator means, each door indicator means being connected to one of the sensing means, and being adapted to cooperate with the sensing means connected therewith and to provide a visual indication that the door has been positioned such that locking means can be moved into a locking engagement with the door; a service actuator secured to an accessible portion of each cabinet, and being adapted to indicate that the service attention is required at a particular display case; a plurality of service indicators at said control panel, each service indicator being connected to one of the service actuators, and being adapted to provide visual indication that service attention is required at a particular display case; and sound reproducing means connected to each service indicator, the sound reproducing means being adapted to provide an audible indication that service attention is required at a particular display case.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
515 words
Apparatus for merchandising small mercantile items comprisiNg: a plurality of display cases, each display case adapted for displaying a plurality of the mercantile items, each display case including: a door, having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough in spaced apart relationship, said apertures being sized large enough to admit a human hand and small enough to prevent withdrawal of the mercantile item therethrough; a cabinet, having a plurality of sides, said sides being shaped to define an open end and a space within the cabinet, a portion of the cabinet generally adjacent the open end thereof being sized and shaped to receive the door, and to support the door such that the door can be moved from an open to a closed position, said cabinets each including a door position sensing means secured to the cabinet, the sensing mans being positioned and adapted to sense the door in one position thereof; plural means disposed within a portion of the space within the cabinet and supported therein, each of the plural means being shaped for supporting said mercantile items within the cabinet, the plural means being spaced a distance from the door, the space within the cabinet between the plural means and the door being large enough to permit one of the mercantile items to be grasped and withdrawn into the space for manipulation by a hand extended through one of the apertures in the door; locking means secured to the cabinet, and being adapted to move into and out of a locking engagement with the door; a control panel disposed among the display cases and adapted to provide a central control position for operating the several display cases, said control panel including: a plurality of lock actuating means, each lock actuating means being connected to one of the locking means and being adapted to actuate the locking means connected thereto to move the locking means into and out of a locking engagement with the door; a plurality of lock indicator means, each lock indicator means being connected to one of the lock actuating means, and being adapted to provide a visual indication that the locking means has been moved out of locking engagement with the door; a plurality of door indicator means, each door indicator means being connected to one of the sensing means, and being adapted to cooperate with the sensing means connected therewith and to provide a visual indication that the door has been positioned such that locking means can be moved into a locking engagement with the door; a service actuator secured to an accessible portion of each cabinet, and being adapted to indicate that the service attention is required at a particular display case; a plurality of service indicators at said control panel, each service indicator being connected to one of the service actuators, and being adapted to provide visual indication that service attention is required at a particular display case; and sound reproducing means connected to each service indicator, the sound reproducing means being adapted to provide an audible indication that service attention is required at a particular display case.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
185 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which is further characterized in that: said control panel includes a plurality of tape players adapted to receive tape recordings and to reproduce therefrom audio intelligence, a plurality of tape player indicators, each tape player indicator being connected to one of the tape players, and being adapted to provide a visual indication that the tape player connected thereto has been actuated and is reproducing the sound from a tape disposed therein; said apparatus further including, a plurality of listening control centers disposed among the several display cases, each listening control center including a panel; a listening means connected to the panel, the listening means being connected to one of the tape players and adapted to permit the customer to hear the audio reproduced therefrom from a selected tape recording; volume control means attached to the Panel, and being connected to one of the tape players and adapted to adjustably control the audio volume therefrom; and fidelity control means attached to the panel, and being connected to one of the tape players and adapted to adjustably control the audio fidelity therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
95 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plural means is defined further to include: a plurality of sensor means, each sensor means being secured in the plural means and positioned in an actuating proximity with one of the mercantile items to sense the presence of the mercantile item; and wherein said control panel includes a plurality of mercantile item indicator means, each item indicator being connected to one of the sensor means and adapted to cooperate therewith to provide a visual indication of the presence of the mercantile in actuating proximity to the sensor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
119 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each sensor means is further characterized as being a switch connected in series with one of the item indicator means; and wherein the control panel is defined further to include: a power supply; and a plurality of toggle switches, each toggle switch being connected in series between one of the sensor switches, one of the item indicator means and the power supply, the toggle switches thereby cooperating with the sensor switches and the item indicator means to provide visual indication of the mercantile items removed from the plural means at a particular time, as well as a visual indication of the mercantile items removed from the plural means over a period of time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each display case is further defined to include a second door, having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, said apertures being sized large enough to admit a human hand and small enough to prevent withdrawal of the mercantile item therethrough; and wherein each cabinet is defined further as having a portion thereof, sized and shaped to receive the second door, and to support the second door such that the door can be moved from an open to a closed position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first mentioned door and the second door each include a locking aperture formed therethrough, the locking apertures being disposed such that when each door has been moved to a closed position, the locking apertures therein are substantially aligned; and wherein the locking means is further defined to include: a locking arm sized to extend through the locking apertures in the doors in the position thereof, when the doors have been moved to the closed position; and control means to move the locking arm into and out of the locking apertures.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-02 | 1975-11-01 | 1976-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-02 | 1979-11-01 | 1980-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-02 | 1983-11-01 | 1984-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |