SECURITY DISPLAY CASE

Abstract

The present invention is a security display case comprising an enclosure defining a safe portion, a display housing with a lift platform, a top wall, and a closure member, the display housing moveable into and out of the safe portion, a lift mechanism disposed in the safe portion drivingly connected to the lift platform, the lift mechanism controlled by a first drive motor, a locking mechanism mounted within the enclosure comprising at least one disc adapted to rotatably extend into and retract into a gap provided between the top wall and closure member of the display housing, the locking mechanism controlled by a second drive motor, and a control system controlling the first and second drive motors, the control system further comprising a lower limit switch, an upper limit switch, a locking trip switch, and an unlocking trip switch.

Claims

1. A security display case comprising: (a) an enclosure comprising a pair of laterally spaced sidewalls, an upper wall, a lower wall, a front wall and a back wall, the walls being generally opaque, the upper wall, lower wall, front wall, and back wall extending between the sidewalls to define an interior, the interior defining a lower safe portion and having a central opening formed in the upper wall permitting access to the interior; (b) a display housing moveable into and out of the safe portion of the enclosure, the display housing having a lower lift platform, a closure member opposite the lower lift platform, two sidewalls interconnecting the lower lift platform and the closure member, and a front and back wall interconnecting the two side panels, at least one of the walls at least partially transparent; (c) a lift mechanism, the lift mechanism being disposed in the safe portion and drivingly connected to the lift platform, the lift mechanism comprising a pair of axially elongated drive rods, a mounting arrangement for mounting opposite ends of the drive rods to the lower and upper walls of the enclosure, a connecting arrangement for connecting the drive rods to the lift platform, drive means for substantially simultaneously rotating each of the drive rods whereby the connecting arrangement causes the lift platform to move axially relative to the drive rods and to move vertically between a security and a display position, and a first drive motor, the first drive motor controlling the drive means; (d) a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being mounted atop the closure member, the locking mechanism comprises at least one latch finger and a second drive motor, the at least one latch finger adapted to be extended into and retracted out of at least one wall of the enclosure, the second drive motor moving the at least one latch finger; (e) a control system, the control system in communication with the first drive motor and the second drive motor.

2. A security display case comprising: (a) an enclosure, the enclosure comprising a pair of laterally spaced sidewalls, an upper wall, a lower wall, a front wall, and a back wall, the walls being generally opaque, the upper wall, lower wall, front wall, and back wall extending between the pair of sidewalls to define an interior, the interior defining a lower safe portion and having a central opening formed in the upper wall permitting access to the interior; (b) a display housing, the display housing moveable into and out of the safe portion of the enclosure, the display housing having a pair of laterally spaced sidewalls, a top wall, a lower lift platform, a front wall, and a back wall, the top wall, lift platform, front wall, and back wall extending between the pair of sidewalls to define an interior, at least one of the walls at least partially transparent, and a closure member mounted distally above the top wall providing a gap therebetween; (c) a lift mechanism, the lift mechanism being disposed in the safe portion and drivingly connected to the lift platform, the lift mechanism comprising a pair of axially elongated drive rods, a mounting arrangement for mounting opposite ends of the drive rods to the lower and upper walls of the enclosure, a connecting arrangement for connecting the drive rods to the lift platform, drive means for substantially simultaneously rotating each of the drive rods whereby the connecting arrangement causes the lift platform to move axially relative to the drive rods and to move vertically between a security and a display position, and a first drive motor, the first drive motor controlling the drive means; (d) a locking assembly, the locking mechanism being mounted within the enclosure, the locking assembly comprising at least one disc and a second drive motor, the at least one disc adapted to rotatably extend into and retract out of the gap provided between the top wall and the closure member of the display housing, the second drive motor rotating the at least one disc; (e) a control system, the control system in communication with the first drive motor and the second drive motor.

3. The security display case of claim 2 wherein the mounting arrangement comprises: a drive plate for mounting each respective drive rod, each drive plate being mounted for rotation on the lower wall of the enclosure, a plurality of gear teeth disposed on the circumference of each drive plate, the opposite ends of the drive rods are journaled in the upper wall of the enclosure.

4. The security display case of claim 2 wherein the connecting arrangement comprises: a pair of drive blocks mounted on opposite respective sides of the lift platform, each drive block having a threaded through bore, the drive rods being threadably connected to the through bore of a respective drive block.

5. The security display case of claim 4 wherein the connecting arrangement further comprises: means for stabilizing the lift platform for parallel movement, the means for stabilizing comprises a first and a second pair of guide members with associated guide rods extending between the upper and lower walls of the enclosure, the guide members constraining the lift platform to remain oriented horizontally.

6. The security display case of claim 4 wherein the drive means comprises: a pair of drive shafts connected to opposing ends of the first drive motor, each drive shaft being drivingly connected to a respective drive rod, each drive shaft terminates at a gear member being drivingly connected to the gear teeth on the respective drive plate, the first drive motor causes the drive shafts to substantially simultaneously rotate the gear members and transmit rotational torque to rotate the drive plates and associated drive rods.

7. The security display case of claim 2 wherein the locking assembly further comprises: a locking member mounted within the enclosure proximate the central opening, a lever pivotally mounted to the locking member, a hinge secured to an end of the lever, a rod coupled to the lever via the hinge, the at least one disc being rotatably connected to the rod and the enclosure wherein the at least one disc is adapted to rotatably extend into and retract out of the gap provided between the top wall and the closure member of the display housing as the lever pivots about the locking member and the rod retracts and extends, respectively.

8. The security display case of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of discs rotatably connected to the rod of the locking assembly.

9. The security display case of claim 7 further comprising a pair of locking assemblies mounted opposite each other within the enclosure proximate the central opening.

10. The security display case of claim 2 wherein the control system comprises: a lower limit switch disposed proximate the lower wall of the enclosure, an upper limit switch disposed proximate the upper wall of the enclosure, the lower limit switch and the upper limit switch being in communication with the first drive motor in order to de-energize the first drive motor when engaged, an unlock trip switch disposed proximate the locking assembly, and a lock switch disposed proximate the locking assembly, the lock trip switch and the unlock trip switch being in communication with the second drive motor in order to de-energize the second drive motor when engaged, and an actuator switch having an up and a down position, the actuator switch being in communication with the first drive motor and second drive motor in order to energize the first drive motor when in the up position and the second drive motor when in the down position.

11. The security display case of claim 10 wherein the lower limit switch is in communication with the second drive motor to energize the second drive motor when engaged and the unlock trip switch is in communication with the first drive motor to energize the first drive motor when engaged.

12. The security display case of claim 10 wherein the actuator switch is a key actuated switch accessible from outside of the enclosure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0038] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a security display case according to the present invention with a vertically movable display housing for supporting items to be displayed when lowered into a lower safe portion of the security case and secured therein;

[0039] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the display case of FIG. 1 showing the display housing in a display position;

[0040] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional end view of the display case illustrating the interior of the display case when the display housing is lowered into the safe portion and at least one disc in the extended position;

[0041] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the at least one disc in the retracted position and the display housing partially raised;

[0042] FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view, in perspective, of a lift mechanism;

[0043] FIG. 6A is a top view of the display case without the closure member showing a plurality of discs in the extended position and the display housing locked in the safe portion;

[0044] FIG. 6B is a partial cross-sectional front view showing the plurality of discs in the extended position within a gap provided between the top wall of the display housing and the closure member;

[0045] FIG. 7A is a top view of the display case without the closure member showing the plurality of discs in the retracted position and the display housing unlocked in the safe portion;

[0046] FIG. 7B is a partial cross-sectional front view showing the plurality of discs in the retracted position;

[0047] FIG. 8 is a perspective view, with components eliminated showing the display assembly partially raised;

[0048] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a display case according to this invention; and

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0049] Turning now to the drawing, FIGS. 1-4, 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7B show a security display case 10 for easily moving items from a display position (FIG. 2) into a safe for secured safe keeping (FIG. 1), and back from the safe into an extended display position for viewing, when desired. A display housing 18 is raised and lowered from the safe without having to transfer the items into a remote safe for safekeeping after and before business hours.

[0050] The security display case 10 of the present invention includes a generally rectangular shaped enclosure 12 having a defined interior that forms a lower safe portion 14, having upper and lower ends, a locking assembly 58 disposed within the safe portion proximate the upper end, and the display housing 18 having a lower lift platform 20, a top wall 19 opposite the lower lift platform 20, and a steel lid or closure member 24 mounted above the top wall 19 providing a gap therebetween.

[0051] The enclosure 12 is formed by a pair of laterally spaced sidewalls 26 and 28, upper wall 32 and lower wall 30, and front and back walls 34 and 36, the walls being generally opaque and the upper wall 32, lower wall 30, front wall 34, and back wall 36 extending between sidewall 26 and sidewall 28 wherein to define an interior for receiving the display housing 18. The upper wall 32 has a central opening 25 through which the display housing 18 extends and retracts.

[0052] As noted above, the display housing 18 is stowable within the safe portion 14 of the enclosure 12.

[0053] The display housing 18 is of such a size to essentially fill the interior of the safe portion 14 but move therewithin between a lowered or security position completely disposed within the safe portion 14 and securely sealed therewithin by the closure member 24. The top wall 19 is interconnected to the lower lift platform 20 by a pair of opposing sidewalls 22a, 22c, a front wall 22b, and a back wall 22d.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 5, a lift mechanism 40 is provided for moving the lift platform 20 between the security and display positions, the lift mechanism 40 being disposed in the safe portion and drivingly connected to the lift platform 20. The lift mechanism 40 includes a pair of axially elongated, substantially parallel drive rods 42, a mounting arrangement for mounting opposite ends of the drive rods 42 to the upper and lower ends of the safe portion 14 for relative rotation thereto, a connecting arrangement for connecting the drive rods 42 to the lift platform 20, and drive means for substantially simultaneously rotating each of the drive rods 42 whereby the connecting arrangement between the rods 42 and the lift platform 20 cause the lift platform 20 to move axially relative to the drive rods 42 and to move vertically between a respective security and display position.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 5, the mounting arrangement includes a circular drive plate 44 for mounting each respective drive rod 42, each drive plate 44 being mounted for rotation on the lower wall of the safe portion 14 and providing the circumference of each respective plate 44 with gear teeth 46. The opposite ends of the drive rods 42, respectively, are journaled in the upper end of the safe portion 14 and fixedly secured to a respective drive plate 44 for rotation.

[0056] The connecting arrangement includes a pair of drive blocks 48 mounted on opposite respective sides of the lift platform 20, each drive block 48 having a threaded through bore. The drive rods 42 are axially elongated, threaded, and threadably connected to the through bore of a respective drive block 48, wherein in situ rotation of the drive rods 42 in one or the other direction causes the drive blocks 48 to move the lift platform 20 up or down depending on the sense of the rotation.

[0057] The drive means comprises a first drive motor 50 drivingly connected to each of the drive rods 42, the first drive motor 50 being disposed in the safe portion 14 below the display housing 18 and includes a pair of drive shafts 52, the drive shafts 52 being drivingly connected to a respective drive rod 42. In a preferred embodiment, each drive shaft 52 terminates in a gear member 51 that is drivingly connected to the gear teeth 46 provided on the circumference of a respective drive plate 44. Energization of the first drive motor 50 causes the drive shafts 52 thereof to substantially simultaneously rotate the gear members 51 and transmit rotational torque to rotate both of the drive plates 44 and associated drive rods 42. Rotations of the drive rods 42 causes the lift platform 20 to raise or lower, depending on the sense of rotation of the drive rods 42.

[0058] Additionally, and as shown in FIG. 8, the security display case 10 further comprises an arrangement for stabilizing the lift platform 20 for horizontal movement relative to the enclosure 12 during movement of the of the lift platform 20 between the lower security and raised display positions. According to a preferred arrangement, there is provided a first and second pair of guide members 54 with associated guide rods 56, the respective pairs of guide members 54 being mounted on one and the other drive block 48 with each guide member 54 receiving a respective guide rod 56, the guide rods 56 extending between the upper and lower ends of the safe portion 14 and constraining the lift platform 20 to remain oriented horizontally when moving between the security and display positions.

[0059] As noted above, the display case 10 includes a locking assembly 58 for locking the display housing 18 to the enclosure 12 when the display housing 18 is in the security position.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the locking assembly 58 is mounted within the safe portion 14 of the enclosure 12, proximate the upper wall 32. As shown, a pair of locking assemblies 58, 58 is used wherein each locking assembly 58, 58 is mounted opposite one another within the safe portion 14 of the enclosure 12. Each locking assembly 58, 58 has a plurality of discs 64, the plurality of discs 64 being adapted to rotate about a vertical axis between an unlocked and locked position, thereby extending and retracting into and out of an unlocked and locked position.

[0061] Turning to FIGS. 3, 4, 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7B, the preferred embodiment of each locking assembly 58, 58 further includes a rod 66, each disc 64 being rotatably connected to the rod 66 and adapted to be rotatably extended and retracted. When in the extended position, each disc 64 rotates to position itself within the gap provided between the top wall 19 of the display housing 18 and the above mounted closure member 24, thereby locking the display housing 18 within the enclosure 12.

[0062] Each locking assembly 58, 58 further includes a locking member 60 mounted within the enclosure 12 and a lever 62 pivotally attached to the locking member 60, the lever 62 being connected to the rod 66 by a hinge 61. Each locking assembly 58, 58 further includes at least one second drive motor 68, and a pair of trip switches, an unlock trip switch 70a and a lock trip switch 70b, disposed on the locking member 60.

[0063] The second drive motor 68 is in operable driving relation to the lever 62 and in electrical communication relation to the trip switches 70a, 7b. Energization of the second drive motor 68 operates to pivot the lever 62 about the locking member 60 such that the rod 66 extends or retracts based on the operation of the second drive motor 68.

[0064] As each disc 64 is pivotally fixed to the enclosure 12 at an enclosure pivot 67 and pivotally fixed to the rod 66 at a rod pivot 65, the extension and retraction of the rod 66 causes each disc 64 to rotate outwardly and inwardly, respectively. It is to be understood that the configuration of the lever 62, rod 66, and each disc 64 may be modified such that each disc 64 rotates in opposite directions based on the movement of the lever 62 and rod 66.

[0065] A control system controls each locking assembly 58, 58 and lift mechanism 40. The control system includes an actuator switch 72, the first and second drive motors 50 and 68, the trip switches 70a, 70b, and the limit switches 74, 76.

[0066] The actuator switch 72 is externally operated by a key and is initially in a neutral position, but selectively positionable to either an up or a down position to energize the second drive motor 68 when the actuator switch 72 is positioned to the up position and the first drive motor 50 when the actuator switch 72 is positioned to the down position.

[0067] The lower and upper limit switches 74, 76 are engaged by movement of the display housing 18. Engagement of either the lower or upper limit switch 74, 76 by the lift platform 20 will cause the first drive motor 50 to de-energize and position the display housing 18 in one and the other security and display positions. Similarly, the lock and unlock trip switches 70a, 70b are engaged by movement of the lever 62. Engagement of either the lock or unlock trip switches 70a, 70b by the lever 62 will cause the second drive motor 68 to de-energize and position each disc 64 in one and the other lock and unlock positions.

[0068] Preferably, the unlock trip switch 70b is in electrical communication with the first drive motor 50 such that when the unlock trip switch 70b is engaged by the lever 62, and each disc 64 in the unlocked position, the second drive motor 68 is de-energized and the first drive motor 50 is energized, thereby lifting the display housing 18. Similarly, it is preferred that the lower limit switch 74 is also in electrical communication with the second drive motor 68 such that when the lower limit switch 74 is engaged by the display housing 18, the first drive motor 50 is de-energized and the second drive motor 68 is energized, thereby rotating each disc 64 and locking the display housing 18 within the enclosure 12. Configuring the trip switches 70a, 70b and limit switches 74, 76 as noted above, ensures that the motors 50, 68 do not burn out from operating past the threshold and, additionally, that the motors 50, 68 do not operate simultaneously. Doing so would cause the lift mechanism 40 and each locking assembly 58, 58 to operate at the same time while the display housing 18 is not in an appropriate position.

[0069] Assume the display housing 18 is initially in the security position and locked in the safe portion 14 by each disc 64. Movement of the actuator switch 72 to the up position will energize the second drive motor 68 whereby the second drive motor 68 will cause each disc 64 to retract from their position within the gap between the top wall 19 of the display housing 18 and the closure member 24, thus disengaging the display housing 18. Once each disc 64 is fully retracted via the rod pivot 65 and the enclosure pivot 67, the lever 62 engages the unlock trip switch 70b and the second drive motor 68 is de-energized and the first drive motor 50 is energized. The first drive motor 50 will effect movement of the display housing 18 upward and away from the lower limit switch 74. Ultimately, the lift platform 20 will engage the upper limit switch 76 whereupon a signal will be sent to de-energize the first drive motor 50 and position the display housing 18.

[0070] The above process is reversed when the user wishes to place the display housing 18 in locked relation within the safe portion 14. The actuator switch 72 is turned to down position whereupon electrical signals are sent to first drive motor 50. The display housing 14 is lowered into the enclosure 16 and, upon the display housing 18 engaging the lower limit switch 74, the first drive motor 50 is de-energized and the second drive motor 68 is energized. Upon the second drive motor 68 being energized, the lever 62 pivots in order to retract the rod 66 and rotate each disc 64 into locking engagement within the gap between the top wall 19 of the display housing 18 and the closure member 24. Once each disc 64 is fully rotated outwardly via the rod pivot 65 and the enclosure pivot 67, the lever 62 engages the lock trip switch 70a, and the second drive motor 68 is de-energized.

[0071] Alternatively, the first and second drive motors 50, 68 may be separately activated by associated actuator switches wherein the unlock trip switch 70b does not energize the first drive motor 50 and the lower limit switch 74 does not energize the second drive motor 68. Instead, the first drive motor 50 and the second drive motor 68 each have a separate associated actuator switch to operate the lift mechanism 40 and each locking assembly 58, 58 individually.

[0072] In the preferred embodiment, the display case 10 is either fixedly mounted to the floor or freestanding and able to be moved.

[0073] The display case 10 may be mounted to the floor via a plurality of bolts or the like extending through the lower wall 30 and the floor. Alternatively, the display case 10 may be mounted to the floor via a plurality of L-shaped brackets or the like bolted to the side walls 26, 28, front wall 34, back wall 36, or combination thereof wherein the plurality of brackets is similarly bolted to the floor and the display case 10 is secured thereto.

[0074] While the display case 10 may be abutted against a wall, when the display case 10 is spaced away from a wall, thus allowing a person to walk around and view the entirety of the display case 10, it is preferred that each wall of the display housing 18 is at least partially transparent.

[0075] Further, referring to FIG. 9, a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a display case according to this invention is denoted at 100, the display case 100 being wall mounted and above the floor of a room.

[0076] According to this aspect of the present invention, the security display case 100 comprises elements that are substantially the same in structure and function as described with respect to the display case 10 hereinbove. In general, the display case 100 comprises an enclosure 112 formed by a pair of sidewalls 126 and 128, a front wall 134, a back wall 136, the walls cooperating, at least in part, to form a safe portion 114 and a display housing 116, the front wall 134 of the display housing 116 is at least partially transparent to provide a viewing window W. The lift arrangement for moving the display housing 116 from the safe portion 114 into display and the locking assembly retain the same structure as applied in the above embodiment.

[0077] According to this embodiment, the back wall 136 is adapted to mount the enclosure 112 in a room wall 180 in vertically spaced relation to the floor of the room.

[0078] It should be noted that in either embodiment, the safe portion is preferably formed of steel or other hardened metal which, for decorative purposes, may be provided with a cladding such as wood or the like which is fastened thereto with any suitable means.

[0079] Similarly, the base or bottom wall of the display housing is secured to the lift platform with suitable fasteners such as screws, bolts or the like. Also, regardless of which locking assembly is deployed, it is secured within the enclosure with suitable fasteners.