Locking device for modular display fixture

Claim 2

In a modular knockdown display fixture for the storage or display of merchandise having tubular corner posts of rectangular cross-section connectable together by frame members to form said structure; each post being formed with at least one pair of slots in each of two contiguous faces forming two pairs of first slots, said pairs of first slots being at substantially the same level; a locking device comprising: a reciprocatable latch member slidably mounted in each post and formed with second slots corresponding to and registering with each of the first slots, the portion of the latch member contiguous to each second slot forming a latch plate; a screw member within the post and connected to said latch member for rotation to move the latch member in a direction to move the latch plate to a position to partially obstruct its respective first slot upon rotation of the screw member in one direction; and spring means urging said latch member in the opposite direction; each frame member having on each of its ends a pair of tongues spaced to enter one of the pairs of said slots in the post and the contiguous second slots in the latch member; an upper latch plate receiving notch in each tongue, said notch being positioned to register with and receive the adjacent latch plate when the tongue is entered in said slots and the screw member rotated to move the latch plate downwardly to engage in said notch.

Claim 3

A structure according to claim 1 in which each tongue is formed with a notch in its bottom edge which receives the contiguous edge of the slot in which it is entered to retain the tongue therein during the assembly and alignment of the fixture.

Claim 4

A structure according to claim 1 wherein each upper latch receiving notch has a sloping lead-in face whereby each latch plate is guided into full engagement in the notch and draws the frame''s end into tight abuting engagement against the post.

Claim 5

A structure according to claim 1 in which the screw member has one end screw-threaded into a threaded hole formed in the top end of the latch member and its opposite end abuts against the upper end of the post, said upper end having an orifice for the entry of tool to turn the screw to lock and unlock said latch member and the spring means is mounted in the bottom end of the post and yieldingly supports said latch member.

Claim 6

In a modular knockdown display fixture for the storage or display of merchandise having at least four tubular corner posts of rectangular cross-section; at least four upper frame members and four lower frame members arranged in pairs and connectable to said posts to form said structure; each post being formed with at least one pair of upper first slots in each of two contiguous faces adjacent the upper end of the post, the said two pairs of upper first slots being substantially at the same level, and at least one correspondinG lower second slot in each of the same contiguous faces and located adjacent the lower end of the post; the locking device comprising: a reciprocatable latch member slidably mounted in each post and formed with upper third slots and lower fourth slots corresponding to and registering with the first and second slots respectively, the portion of the latch member contiguous to each third and fourth slot forming a latch plate; a screw member within the post and connected to said latch member for rotation to move the said latch member in a direction to move each latch plate to a position to partially obstruct its respective slot upon rotation of the screw member in one direction; spring means urging said latch member in the opposite direction; each upper frame member having on each of its ends a pair of tongues spaced to enter one of the pairs of said first slots in the post and the contiguous upper third slots in the latch member; each lower frame member having on each of its ends a tongue positioned to enter one of the said second slots and the lower contiguous fourth slot; an upper latch plate receiving notch in each of said tongues, said notch being positioned to register with the adjacent latch plate when the tongue is entered therein.

Claim 7

In a modular knockdown display fixture for the storage or display of merchandise having at least four tubular corner posts of rectangular cross-section; at least four upper frame members and four lower frame members arranged in pairs and connectable to said posts to form said structure; each post being formed with at least one pair of upper first slots in each of two contiguous faces adjacent the upper end of the post, the said two pairs of upper first slots being substantially at the same level, and at least one correspondinG lower second slot in each of the same contiguous faces and located adjacent the lower end of the post; the locking device comprising: a reciprocatable latch member slidably mounted in each post and formed with upper third slots and lower fourth slots corresponding to and registering with the first and second slots respectively, the portion of the latch member contiguous to each third and fourth slot forming a latch plate; a screw member within the post and connected to said latch member for rotation to move the said latch member in a direction to move each latch plate to a position to partially obstruct its respective slot upon rotation of the screw member in one direction; spring means urging said latch member in the opposite direction; each upper frame member having on each of its ends a pair of tongues spaced to enter one of the pairs of said first slots in the post and the contiguous upper third slots in the latch member; each lower frame member having on each of its ends a tongue positioned to enter one of the said second slots and the lower contiguous fourth slot; an upper latch plate receiving notch in each of said tongues, said notch being positioned to register with the adjacent latch plate when the tongue is entered therein.

Claim 8

A structure according to claim 5 in which each tongue is formed with a notch in its bottom edge which receives the contiguous edge of the slot in which it is entered to retain the tongue therein during the assembly and alignment of the fixture.

Claim 9

A structure according to claim 5 wherein each upper latch receiving notch has a sloping lead-in face whereby each latch plate is guided into full engagement in the respective notch and draws the frame''s end into tight abuting engagement against the post.

Claim 10

A structure according to claim 5 in which the screw member has one end screw-threaded into a threaded hole formed in the top end of the latch member and its opposite end abuts against the upper end of the post, said upper end having an orifice for the entry of tool to turn the screw to lock and unlock said latch member and the spring means is mounted in the bottom end of the post and yieldingly supports said latch member.