Kit, display case, components therefor and edge profile

Abstract

A kit forms a display case or a part of a display case. The kit has at least one frameless side panel with a panel front side, a panel back side, a panel edge extending between the panel front side and the panel back side and four panel corners, and at least one profile strip, which extends along the panel edge from a first of the side corners to a second of the side corners. The profile strip has a fixation section covering either the panel edge and the panel back side in an edge region, or only the panel back side in an edge region, or only the panel edge, and a holding section being subsequent to the fixation section holding a cover or bottom plate. By the kit the display case can be assembled solidly and is easily disassembled.

Claims

1. A kit for forming a display case or a part of the display case, the kit comprising: at least one frameless side panel having a panel front side, a panel back side, a panel edge extending between said panel front side and said panel back side and four panel corners; at least one profile strip extending along said panel edge from a first of said panel corners to a second of said panel corners, said profile strip having a fixation section covering either said panel edge and said panel back side in an edge region, or only said panel back side in said edge region, or only said panel edge, and a holding section being subsequent to said fixation section, said fixation section being glued with at least one of said panel edge or said edge region of said panel back side; and at least one insert with a therein inserted or insertable, flexibly formed profile strip connecting element extending in a longitudinal direction of said profile strip and disposed in said holding section; said profile strip connecting element containing a joint and two dowels connected to each other by said joint, said profile strips configured to be oriented at varying angles relative to each other due to said joint provided between said two dowels.

2. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said dowels each has a constriction formed therein.

3. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said profile strip has an L-shaped cross section, a T-shaped cross section or a Z-shaped cross section.

4. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said fixation section is formed at least partly complementary to an angle, which said panel edge forms with said panel back side.

5. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said panel edge has a chamfer and said fixation section has an angle groove formed therein at least partly complementary to said chamfer, wherein said chamfer is aligned in such a way that a thickness of said frameless side panel tapers towards said holding section and said panel front side ends flush with a front edge of said fixation section.

6. The kit according to claim 5, wherein said chamfer forms a miter and said angle groove has a triangular cross section.

7. The kit according to claim 5, further comprising at least one adhesive or sealant disposed in said angle groove, between said frameless side panel and said fixation section.

8. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said holding section has a through bore formed therein for an insertion of a fixation element aligned transversely to the longitudinal direction of said profile strip.

9. The kit according to claim 1, further comprising: a cover or a bottom plate; and at least one seal disposed between said holding section and said cover or bottom plate.

10. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said profile strip is not higher and not wider than 1 cm in cross section.

11. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said insert has a connecting bar, a round cross section part and a rectangular cross section part connected to said round cross section part by said connecting bar.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, side view of an embodiment of a kit according to the invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a side view of a second embodiment of the kit according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 3 is a side view of a third embodiment of the kit according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 4 is a side view of a fourth variant of the kit according to the invention;

(5) FIG. 5 is a side view of the fourth embodiment depicted in FIG. 4 of the kit according to the invention with a cover plate placed on a profile strip;

(6) FIG. 6 is a top view of a profile strip connecting element associated with the display case kit according to the invention;

(7) FIG. 7 is an illustration showing an embodiment of an edge profile on a side corner of an embodiment of a display case of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 8 is an illustration of a further embodiment of the edge profile on the side corner of an embodiment of the display case of the present invention in a closed state;

(9) FIG. 9 is an illustration of the edge profile on the side corner of the embodiment of the display case of FIG. 8 in an open state; and

(10) FIG. 10 is an illustration showing another embodiment of an edge profile on a side corner of an embodiment of a display case of the present invention in a closed state.

(11) FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of an embodiment of the display case of the present invention;

(12) FIG. 12 is an illustration showing a detail of an embodiment of the display case of the present invention; and

(13) FIG. 13 is an illustration showing another detail of an embodiment of the display case of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(14) It is noted that the same reference numbers in FIGS. 1 to 9 refer to the same components.

(15) Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown an embodiment of a kit 1 according to the invention in a side view.

(16) The kit 1 contains a side panel 2 made of glass and two profile strips 3, 3a provided on a panel back side 22 of the side panel 2. Hereby, a first profile strip 3 is glued to an upper edge region 221 of the panel back side 22 and the second profile strip 3a is glued to a lower edge region 222 of the panel back side 22.

(17) The first profile strip 3 as well as the second profile strip 3a is formed of aluminum and contains a fixation section 31, 31a that is rectangular in the cross section as well as a holding section 32, 32a that is L-shaped in the cross section. In further variants of the kit 1 according to the invention, the profile strip 3, 3a can, however, also be made of plastic, wood, or any other metal and comprise a different cross-sectional shape.

(18) The fixation section 31, 31a serves for the fixation of the profile strip 3, 3a at the side panel 2 subsequent to the fixation section 31, 31a. The holding section 32, 32a, herein integrally formed with the fixation section 31, 31a, serves for holding a cover plate 4 respectively and a bottom plate of the display case to be built with the kit 1. In alternative embodiments of the kit 1, the fixation section 31, 31a and the holding section 32, 32a can also consist of two individual components and can for example be connected with each other by means of gluing.

(19) A through bore 8 extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the profile strip 3a is provided in the holding section 32a of the profile strip 3a attached in the lower edge region 222. The through bore 8 serves for the fixation of the profile strip 3a and thus of the side panel 2 on a base frame respectively a subfloor that is not depicted. A slipping or undesired transport of a display case formed by the kit 1 is thus avoided respectively made more difficult. Furthermore, the through bore 8 can also be used for fixing the bottom plate on the profile strip 3a.

(20) In alternative embodiments of the kit 1 according to the invention, the profile strip 3 holding the cover plate 4 can also contain such a through bore 8 that the cover plate 4 can also be connected with the profile strip 3, whereby an ingress into the display case is impaired. Likewise, the cover plate 4 respectively the bottom plate can also be connected with the profile strip 3, 3a in any other way, for example by means of at least one magnet or a temporary adhesive.

(21) For connecting side panels containing two profile strips 3, 3a to a display case, inserts 5 for the insertion of a profile strip connecting element 6 are provided in the holding sections 32, 32a of the profile strips 3, 3a. In the embodiment of the display case kit 1 depicted in FIG. 1, an insert 5 each extending in longitudinal direction of the profile strip 3, 3a is arranged at each longitudinal end of each holding section 32, 32a. Thus it is possible for the side panel 2 to be connected on both sides with another side panel, respectively and for a cuboid display case to be arranged.

(22) In the depicted embodiment, the inserts 5 are formed as a blind hole, which has the advantage that the inserts 5 can be easily and cost-effectively produced. However, in further variants of the kit 1 according to the invention, the inserts 5 can also have different forms. Favorably, the inserts 5 always comprise a form that is complementarily formed to the profile strip connecting elements 6, since the profile strip connecting elements 6 can thus be held particularly securely in the inserts 5. The length of the insert 5 as well as its cross section and the corresponding dimensions of the used profile strip connecting element 6 should advantageously be chosen application-specific, are however particularly dependent on the dimensions of the holding section 32, 32a.

(23) In the embodiment of the kit 1 depicted in FIG. 1, the profile strip connecting element 6 is formed in an articulated manner as depicted in FIG. 6 and is made of two dowels 61, 62, which are coupled by a stud 63. For connecting two side panels 2, a first dowel 61 of the profile strip connecting element 6 is plugged into the insert 5 of the upper profile strip 3. A second dowel 62 of the profile strip connecting element 6 is plugged into an insert 5 of a profile strip 3, 3a also provided in an upper edge region of a further non-depicted side panel. Due to the articulated embodiment of the profile strip connecting element 6, both side panels can be particularly easily connected with each other and can be arranged at an angle of 90° or any other angle between 90° and 180° to each other.

(24) Since the profile strip connecting element 6 is only plugged into the respective insert 5, a simple assembling and disassembling of the display case to be formed by the display case kit 1 is possible. Moreover, the dowel 61, 62 of the profile strip connecting element 6 can also be glued into the respective insert, whereby a loss of the profile strip connecting element 6 during the disassembling and the transport of the display case formed by the kit 1 can be prevented.

(25) As a result of the embodiment of the profile strips 3, 3a with a maximal height of 1 cm, the frame of the side panel formed by the profile strips 3, 3a respectively of the display case to be formed by the kit 1 is hardly visible and then allows a good view into the interior of the display case. Since the profile strip connecting elements 6 disappear inside the frame formed by the profile strips 3, 3a after the assembling of the display case, a display case that is visually very appealing can furthermore be provided by the display case kit 1.

(26) FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of a kit 1′ according to the invention in a side view.

(27) In contrast to the first embodiment of the display case kit 1 according to the invention depicted in FIG. 1, the profile strips 3b, 3c are attached on side edges 23′, 25′ pointing upwards and downwards in a functional alignment of the display case to be formed by the display case kit 1′ of the display case kit 1′ shown in FIG. 2. For this purpose, the fixation sections 31b, 31c of the profile strips 3b, 3c are formed longer compared to the fixation sections 31, 31a of the profile strips 3, 3a of FIG. 1.

(28) Just like the profile strips 3, 3a of FIG. 1, the profile strips 3b, 3c of FIG. 2 are also glued with the panel edges 23′, 25′.

(29) Contrary to the variant depicted in FIG. 1, no through bore 8 is provided in the lower profile strip 3c in the embodiment of the kit 1′ of FIG. 2, so that the profile strip 3c can neither be screwed with a base frame nor with a subfloor nor with a bottom plate. Insofar as such a through bore 8 is omitted, the display case formed by the kit 1′ is either simply placed on a base frame or a subfloor or is connected with the base frame or subfloor in another way. Thus, the display case respectively the lower profile strips 3c of the display case can be fixed on the base frame or subfloor, for example by means of a temporary adhesive.

(30) FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a kit 1″ according to the invention for a display case in a side view. With this kit 1″, the fixation sections 31d, 31e are formed L-shaped. The L-shaped fixation sections 31d, 31e are hereby aligned in such a way that these abut on the panel edges 23, 25 pointing upwards and downwards as well as on the upper and lower edge regions 221, 222 of the panel back side 22. With such an embodiment of the kit 1″ according to the invention, the side panel 2 is held particularly secure by means of the profile strips 3d, 3e.

(31) For fixing the profile strips 3d, 3e on the side panel 2, a seal 7 is provided between the edge region 221, 222 of the panel back side 22 and the fixation section 31d, 31e as well as between the side edge 23, 25 and the fixation section 31d, 31e. The seal 7 is made of silicon in the example depicted in FIG. 3, but can also consist of acrylic or another adhesive in further variants of the kit 1″.

(32) For a visually very appealing display case, a front edge 310d, 310e of the profile strip 3d, 3e ends flush with the panel front side 21 of the side panel 2.

(33) FIG. 4 shows a fourth variant of the display case kit 1″ according to the invention for a display case according to the invention in a side view, wherein the panel edges 23″, 25″ of the side panel 2″ pointing upwards and downwards comprise a chamfer 231″, 251″ in this embodiment. The chamfer 231″, 251″ is arranged in such a way that the thickness of the side panel 2″ tapers towards the holding section 32f, 32g of the profile strips 3f, 3g.

(34) For an ideal fixation of the profile strips 3f, 3g on such a side panel 2″, the fixation sections 31f, 31g of the profile strips 3f, 3g each comprise an angle groove 311f, 311g complementarily formed to the chamfer 231″, 251″, extending in longitudinal direction of the profile strip 3f, 3g. In the embodiment of the kit 1″ depicted in FIG. 3, the angle groove 311f, 311g contains a triangular cross section. In alternative variants of the display case kit according to the invention, the angle groove 311f, 331g inserted in the fixation section 31f, 31g can also contain a different cross section. Thus, the angle groove 311f, 311g can for example have a rectangular or trapezoidal cross section. Furthermore, the angle groove 311f, 311g also does not have to be entirely complementary to the shape of the edge region of the side panel 2″ but can also be formed only partly complementary to the edge region.

(35) In the embodiment of the display case kit 1″ depicted in FIG. 4, the angle groove 311f, 311g is arranged in the fixation section 31f, 31g in such a way that the front edge 310f, 310g of the profile strip 3f, 3g ends flush with the panel front side 21″. Likewise, the profile strip 3f, 3g can also project over the panel front side 21″ or can be indented in relation to the aforesaid in further variants of the display case kit 1″ according to the invention.

(36) In principle, the height and width of the profile strip 3f, 3g can be chosen freely. In the depicted embodiment, the profile strip 3f, 3g however contains a height and width in a range of 0.8 cm to 1.5 cm, preferably 1 cm. Such a height and width has proven particularly advantageous since the side panel 2″ can be held particularly well with such a height and width and, the view inside the display case is not unnecessarily impaired by the profile strips 3f, 3g at the same time.

(37) FIG. 5 shows the embodiment of the kit 1″ according to the invention depicted in FIG. 4 with a cover plate 4 placed on a profile strip 3f in a side view. In the depicted embodiment, the cover plate 4 is merely placed on the profile strip 3f without being additionally fixed. In further variants of the kit 1″ according to the invention, the cover plate 4 can also be connected temporarily with the profile strip 3f for example by means of at least one screw, one stud or a temporary adhesive.

(38) A seal 9 is provided between the cover plate 4 and the holding section 32f of the profile strip 3f, which enables a gentle placement of the cover plate 4 onto the profile strip 3 made of aluminum. In the shown example, the seal 9 is made of silicone but can also be made of acrylic or rubber in further variants.

(39) In the variant of the display case kit 1′″ depicted in FIG. 5, a profile strip connecting element 6 is plugged into the insert 5 provided in the holding section 32f by means of which two adjacent profile strips 3f can be connected.

(40) The used profile strip connecting element 6 is shown in more detail in a top view in FIG. 6.

(41) The profile strip connecting element 6 consists of two dowels 61, 62, which are flexibly linked on one end by means of a stud 63. In order to optimally connect the dowels 61, 62 with each other, a recess is provided in the end of a first of the two dowels 62, in which the end of a second of the two dowels 61 is inserted. In order for the second dowel 61 to be inserted into the recess of the first dowel 62, in spite of it having the same cross section as the first dowel 62, the end of the second dowel 61 is flattened and is adjusted to the size and form of the recess of the first dowel 62.

(42) In alternative embodiments of the kit according to the invention, both dowels can also be connected in another way. Thus, a screw can for example be used to connect the dowels 61, 62 instead of a stud, or the ends of both dowels 61, 62 are plugged into insert devices being flexibly connected with each other. Depending on how the profile strip connecting element 6 is formed, the insert 5 for the profile strip connecting element 6 is formed accordingly. Advantageously, the insert 5 is formed complementary or predominantly complementary to the profile strip connecting element 6 so that the profile strip connecting element 6 can be plugged safely into the insert 5 without slipping out or shifting. Furthermore, the insert 5 should not be too small as the profile strip connecting element 6 cannot completely be plugged into the insert 5, whereby an unpleasant gap could be the result between the side panels 2 to be connected with each other.

(43) Due to the flexible connection of the dowels 61, 62, two profile strips 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g can be connected particularly easily and can be aligned to each other at angle between 90° or 180°. For this purpose, one of the dowels 61 is plugged into the first profile strip 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g and the second dowel 62 is plugged into the second profile strip 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g to be connected with the first profile strip 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g. Due to the dowel-like embodiment of the profile strip connecting element 6, the dowels 61, 62 cannot only be plugged easily into the inserts 5 of the profile strips 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g but can also be pulled out easily from the inserts 5 when disassembling the display case.

(44) For a particularly easy insertion of the dowels 61, 62 as well as for fixing the dowels 61, 62 in the inserts 5, a constriction 611, 622 each is provided on the ends of the non-connected dowels 61, 62. Here, a grub screw 17 engages in order to build a connection between the elements.

(45) In the shown example, the constriction 611, 622 is formed in shape of a V-shaped notch extending around the circumference. Moreover, the constriction 611, 622 can also have a rectangular or U-shaped cross section in other variants.

(46) When loosening the grub screw 17, the dowels 61, 62 can be pulled out from the insert 5.

(47) FIG. 7 shows a partial view of an embodiment of a display case of the present invention, wherein in this figure only one side edge 110 of the display case is shown.

(48) At the side edge 110, an edge profile 111 is mounted. The edge profile 111 is provided between two side panels 2″, 2″ of the display case.

(49) The side panels 2″, 2″ are frameless. Each have of the side panels 2″, 2″ has a miter 20 on at least one end. The end having the miter 20 is introduced in an acute angled miter seat 112 of the edge profile 111, respectively.

(50) The edge profile 111 used in the embodiment of FIG. 7 contains a first edge profile part 113 and a second edge profile part 114. The second edge profile part 114 is a mirror-inversed construction of the first edge profile part 113.

(51) The first edge profile part 113 and the second edge profile part 114 each have a cross section having a triangularly shaped outer portion 115, 115′ and a triangularly shaped inner portion 116, 116′.

(52) The triangularly shaped outer portion 115, 115′ contains an outer portion hypotenuse 117, a first outer portion cathetus 118 and a second outer portion cathetus 119. Between the first outer portion cathetus 118 and the second outer portion cathetus 119 a right angle is formed.

(53) The triangularly shaped inner portion 116, 116′ is formed as one piece with the outer portion 115, 115′, respectively. In other embodiments of the invention, the triangularly shaped inner portion 116, 116′ can also be fixed to the outer portion 115, 115′, respectively.

(54) The triangularly shaped inner portion 116, 116′ has an inner portion hypotenuse 137, a first inner portion cathetus 138 and a second inner portion cathetus 139. Between the first inner portion cathetus 138 and the second inner portion cathetus 139, a right angle is formed.

(55) The outer portion hypotenuse 117 and the inner portion hypotenuse 137 are provided parallel to each other. The first outer portion cathetus 118 is in parallel with the first inner portion cathetus 138.

(56) The acute angled miter seat 112 is provided between the second outer portion cathetus 119 and the inner portion hypotenuse 137.

(57) The first edge profile part 113 and the second edge profile part 114 each have a notch 140 provided in parallel to the respective first outer portion cathetus 118.

(58) The edge profile 111 comprises a connecting and sealing unit 160 having a U-shaped cross-section with two legs 161, 162 being introduced or formed for an introduction into the notches 140 from the outside.

(59) FIGS. 8 and 9 are partial views of another embodiment of a display case of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, an edge profile 121 is mounted at a side edge 120 of the display case. The edge profile 121 is provided between two side panels 2″, 2″ of the display case.

(60) The side panels 2″, 2″ are frameless. Each have of the side panels 2″, 2″ has a miter 20 on at least one end. The miter 20 is introduced in an acute angled miter seat 122 of the edge profile 121, respectively.

(61) The edge profile 121 used in the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9 contains a first edge profile part 123 and a second edge profile part 124. The second edge profile part 124 is a mirror-inversed construction of the first edge profile part 123.

(62) The first edge profile part 123 and the second edge profile part 124 each have a cross section having a triangularly shaped outer portion 125, 125′ and a triangularly shaped inner portion 126, 126′.

(63) The triangularly shaped outer portion 125, 125′ contains an outer portion hypotenuse 127, a first outer portion cathetus 128 and a second outer portion cathetus 129. Between the first outer portion cathetus 128 and the second outer portion cathetus 129, a right angle is formed.

(64) The triangularly shaped inner portion 126, 126′ is formed as one piece with the outer portion 125, 125′, respectively. In other embodiments of the invention, the triangularly shaped inner portion 126, 126′ can also be fixed to the outer portion 125, 125′, respectively.

(65) The triangularly shaped inner portion 126, 126′ has an inner portion hypotenuse 147, a first inner portion cathetus 148 and a second inner portion cathetus 149. Between the first inner portion cathetus 148 and the second inner portion cathetus 149, a right angle is formed.

(66) The outer portion hypotenuse 127 and the inner portion hypotenuse 147 are provided parallel to each other. The first outer portion cathetus 128 is in parallel with the first inner portion cathetus 148.

(67) The acute angled miter seat 122 is provided between the second outer portion cathetus 129 and the inner portion hypotenuse 147.

(68) The first edge profile part 123 and the second edge profile part 124 each have a notch 150 provided in parallel to the respective first outer portion cathetus 128.

(69) The edge profile 121 contains a connecting and/or sealing unit 170 having a V-shaped cross-section with two legs 171, 172 being introduced or formed for an introduction into the notches 150.

(70) In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the edge profile parts 123, 124 are connected at outer ends of their first outer portion catheti 128 by a hinge 180. By the hinge 180, the edge profile parts 123, 124 and, therefore, the side panels 2″, 2″, can be folded apart, as shown in FIG. 3, and collapsed, as shown in FIG. 2.

(71) FIG. 10 schematically shows another embodiment of the edge profile 121′ on a side corner of an embodiment of a display case of the present invention in a closed state. The edge profile 121′ is provided between two frameless side panels 2′″, 2′″ of the display case, wherein these side panels 2′″, 2′″ have a tip 20a on their ends, respectively. The pointed ends are directly vis-à-vis the edge profile 121′. The respective tip 20a is received in a tip seat 122′ of the edge profile 121′, respectively.

(72) The edge profile 121′ used in the embodiment of FIG. 10 contains a first edge profile part 123′ and a second edge profile part 124′. The second edge profile part 124′ is a mirror-inversed construction of the first edge profile part 123′.

(73) The first edge profile part 123′ and the second edge profile part 124′ each have a cross section having a triangularly shaped outer portion 125″, 125′″ and a triangularly shaped inner portion 126, 126′.

(74) The triangularly shaped outer portion 125″, 125′″ contains an outer portion hypotenuse 127, a first outer portion cathetus 128 and a second outer portion cathetus 129 between the first outer portion cathetus 128 and the second outer portion cathetus 129, a right angle is formed.

(75) The triangularly shaped inner portion 126, 126′ is formed as one piece with the outer portion 125″, 125′″, respectively. In other embodiments of the invention, the triangularly shaped inner portion 126, 126′ can also be fixed to the outer portion 125″, 125′″, respectively.

(76) The triangularly shaped inner portion 126, 126′ has an inner portion hypotenuse 147, a first inner portion cathetus 148 and a second inner portion cathetus 149. Between the first inner portion cathetus 148 and the second inner portion cathetus 149, a right angle is formed.

(77) The outer portion hypotenuse 127 and the inner portion hypotenuse 147 are provided parallel to each other. The first outer portion cathetus 128 is in parallel with the first inner portion cathetus 148.

(78) The tip seat 122′ is provided between the second outer portion cathetus 129 and the inner portion hypotenuse 147.

(79) The first edge profile part 123′ and the second edge profile part 124′ each have a notch 150 provided in parallel to the respective first outer portion cathetus 128.

(80) The edge profile 121′ contains a connecting and/or sealing unit 170 having a V-shaped cross-section with two legs 171, 172 being introduced or formed for an introduction into the notches 150.

(81) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the edge profile parts 123′, 124′ are connected at outer ends of their first outer portion catheti 128 by a hinge 180. By the hinge 180, the edge profile parts 123′, 124′ and, therefore, the side panels 2′″, 2′″, can be folded apart, as shown in FIG. 9, and collapsed, as shown in FIG. 10.

(82) In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, corners of the edge profile parts 113, 114, 123, 123′, 124, 124′ are flattened. In other not-shown embodiments of the invention, the edges can be rounded or spiky.

(83) In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the outer portions 115, 115′, 125, 125′, 125″, 125′″ of the edge profile parts 113, 114, 123, 123′, 124, 124′ are formed of solid material such as of aluminum, and the inner portions 116, 116′, 126, 126′ of the edge profile parts 113, 114, 123, 123′, 124, 124′ can also be of aluminum but are internally hollow, forming hollow spaces 190, 190′.

(84) FIG. 11 schematically shows the display case 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The display case 10 contains four frameless side panels 2, a bottom plate 4′, a sub-floor 91 and the cover plate 4. In the embodiment shown, the cover plate 4 as well as the side panels 2 are formed from glass. As schematically shown in FIG. 11, at the upper ends of the side panels 2, the profile strips 3, as shown in FIG. 1, are provided. The profile strips 3 hold the cover plate 4. As it is furthermore schematically shown in FIG. 11, at the lower ends of the side panels 2 the profile strips 3a, as shown in FIG. 1, are provided. The profile strips 3a hold the bottom plate 4′. In other embodiments of the present invention, instead of the side panels 2, other frameless side panels 2′, 2″ or 2″, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, can be used. Furthermore, other profile strips, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, can be used instead of the profile strips 3, 3a.

(85) FIG. 12 shows schematically a detail of an embodiment of a display case 10a of the present invention. The display case 10a has, similarly to the display case 10 of FIG. 11, four frameless side panels 2″, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 5, a bottom plate 4′ and a cover plate 4. In the embodiment shown, the cover plate 4 as well as the side panels 2 are formed from glass. At the upper ends of the side panels 2″, profile strips 3f, as shown in FIG. 5, are provided. The profile strips 3f hold the cover plate 4. As it is furthermore schematically shown in FIG. 12, at the lower ends of the side panels 2″ profile strips 3g, as shown in FIG. 5, are provided. The profile strips 3g hold the bottom plate 4′.

(86) Under the bottom plate 4′, a sub-floor 91 is provided. The display case 10a stands on feet 92 provided below the sub-floor 91.

(87) FIG. 13 shows schematically another detail of an embodiment of a display case 10b of the present invention. The display case 10b has four frameless side panels 2″, a bottom plate 4′, a cover plate 4 and profile strips, similarly like the display case 10 of FIG. 11, wherein the form of the side panels and the profile strips can differ as mentioned above. The sides panels 2″ of the display case 10b are connected at their vertical side edges by an edge profile 111 as shown in FIG. 7.

(88) As described above with reference to FIG. 7, the edge profile 111 has inner portion catheti 139, forming together a flat surface. On the flat surface, a shelf carrier 93 is mounted. Since such a shelf carrier 93 is provided in each of the four edges of the display case, an intermediate shelf of the display case 10b can be laid on these shelf carriers 93.

(89) Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the edge profile 111 contains at least two parts 111a, 111b being vertically stacked.

(90) Instead of the edge profile 111, another edge profile such the edge profile 121 of FIGS. 8, 9 or the edge profile 121′ of FIG. 10 can be used depending from the shape of the edges of the side panels used.