Untitled record

Application filed November

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jewel Warren King, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State 5 of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store Constructions, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. . .

This invention relates to certain improvements in a store construction and arrangement.

An important object of the invention is to provide a store wherein purchases may be 15 made by patrons from vehicles without leaving the vehicle, as well as by patrons on foot.

A further object of the invention is to provide a store of this character wherein 20 the maintenance and operation of the same is extremely simple.

The invention consists in a rotatable structure embodying shelves displaying merchandise and the like, a roadway for vehicles 25 being formed about the rotatable structure, which roadway is restricted adjacent its entrance and exit so that but a single vehicle may pass at one time, thereby assisting in checking of the patrons.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent throughout the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a 35 preferred embodiment of my invention, and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout:—

Figure 1 is a sectional- plan view of a store constructed in accordance with my in40 vention, and

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2—2 of Fig. .1. .

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a cen45 tral pit or cellar in which is rotatably mounted the lower end of a vertical supporting and driving shaft 11. From this shaft extend horizontal, radially disposed supporting beams 12 to support a floor 13 at the 50 approximate level of the ground surface.

Beneath the floor adjacent the periphery thereof is disposed an annular track 14 concentric with shaft 11 and extending downwardly from the bottom of the floor are 55 strips 15 in which are mounted supportingwheels 16 which engage the track and assist

13, 1920. Serial No. 423,906.

in maintaining the position of the structure.

Above the floor at the periphery thereof are arranged, vertically spaced annular 60 shelves 1'7 which are inclined downwardly toward their outer edges and which are provided at such outer edges with a raised ledge 18 to prevent articles placed upon the shelf from falling therefrom. Above and below 65 the shelves 17 an annular partition 19 is provided inclosing the rotatable structure, the upper end of the partition being supported by suitable radial bracing extending outwardly from the vertical shelf 11. The 70 shelves 17 are divided into compartments by the use of radial partitions 21, each compartment being adapted for the reception of. a particular brand of merchandise. Within the rotatable structure upon the 75 floor 13 are arranged storage shelves 22 for the storing of supplies of replenishing compartments formed upon the shelves 17.

Extending about, the rotatable structure and in spaced relation thereto, I preferably 80 provide a substantially circular outer wall 23 which is relatively stationary and which supports the outer edge of the roof 24 which is centrally supported by the rotatable shaft 11, as at 25. §5 .The outer stationary wall 23 is provided with an entrance 26.

Intermediate the entrance 26 and the rotatable structure and adjacent the outer face of the rotatable structure, I provide a sta- 90 tionary counter 27 having arranged at the ends thereof a basket counter '28 and a cashier’s counter 29. The basket and cashier’s counter preferably extend beyond the outer face of the stationary counter 27 95 and are connected by a railing 30 provided adjacent the basket counter with an entrance gate 31 and adjacent the entrance with an exit gate 32.

It will be seen that foot patrons entering 100 may pass through the entrance gate, receiving at the counter 28 a basket if they so desire, stand at the counter 27 and select their goods from the compartments of the store as they pass, and passing out of the exit 105. gate 32 pay the cashier. At the sides of the entrance a curbing 33 is preferably provided, which curbing passes about the central rotatable structure in uniform spaced relation thereto and likewise preferably in 110 spaced relation to the outer stationary wall 23. If desired, intermediate this outer curb

1,381,202 ing 33 and the stationary wall additional basket booths or counters may be provided.

An inner curbing 35. is provided having its ends adjacent the entrance spaced and 5 directed toward the entrance to afford therebetween a pathway for foot patrons. This curbing 35· then passes about the counter 28 and is at this point only sufficiently spaced from the curbing 33 to permit the passage of 10 a single vehicle. Beyond the counter 28, however, the curb 35 is curved inwardly, as. at 36, toward the periphery of the central rotatable structure and passes thereabout close to the periphery of the rotatable struc15 ture so that vehicles may be stationed adjacent the periphery of the structure and the occupants thereof may remove from the compartments while passing such articles as they desire. Adjacent the counter 29 the 20 curb 35 is. again curved outwardly toward the curb 33,. as at 37, so that before the counter 29 there is but sufficient space between . these curbs to permit the passage of but a single vehicle,

Preferably in operation, the vehicles entering will pass the basket counter 28 where they will receive a basket for containing, the. goods and thence drive to the. point adjacent the curve 35 where it parallels the outer sur30 face of the inner rotatable structure and collect such goods from the compartments as desired.. When the goods are all collected, the vehicle may complete the circuit, passing any other vehicles which may be stand3.5 ing to collect goods and arriving at the cashier’s desk, turning in. the basket for checking of the contents thereof. At this desk the goods will be placed in a. sack, or other suitable receptacle, and returned to 40 the purchaser.

Entrance to the cellar or pit 10. is preferably had through means of an entrance door 38 arranged exteriorly of the inner rotatable member and connected to the cellar 45 by a passage way 39. From the cellar access may be had to the interior of the central rotatable structure by means of steps 40' and the doors formeci in the floor 14.. The cellar or pit 10 will have arranged 50 therein suitable driving mechanism 41 so that the periphery of the central rotatable structure may be caused to travel at very low rate of speed. If desired,, this mechanism may be provided with suitable stop 55 mechanism arranged exteriorly of the central rotatable structure wherein the rotation may be intermittently checked.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that a store constructed in accordance with my 60 invention provides means whereby patrons in vehicles may be served without leaving the vehicle, and likewise provides means whereby foot, patrons may be served simultaneously; and it will likewise be obvious 65 that the construction of the same as herein before set forth is capable of some change without departing from the spirit of my invention. I, therefore, do not limit myself to such specific structure as hereinbefore set forth, except as so limited by the subjoined 70 claims.