Device for exhibiting transparencies

Oct. 13,1942. j. a. davis 2,298,754

DEVICE FOR EXHIBITING TRANSPARENCIES

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Patented Oct. 13, 1942

2,298,754

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,298,754

DEVICE FOR EXHIBITING TRANSPARENCIES

John Adams Davis, Great Neck, N. Y. '

Application December 14, 1940, Serial No. 370,145

Claims.

This invention relates to a device for exhibiting transparencies.

Transparencies have for some time been used for the purpose of exhibiting objects where it has been impracticable to exhibit the objects themselves. Transparencies that depict not only the object but also its colors have recently been developed to a high degree of perfection. This development makes it possible for a merchandise establishment, for instance, to exhibit true reproductions of the merchandise that it has for sale, not only from the point of view of form, but also of color. As it is oftentimes desirable, and indeed necessary, to exhibit this merchandise at locations remote from the merchandise itself, the color transparencies admirably serve this purpose.

For instance, a merchandise establishment selling blankets, carpets or the like, is enabled, by the use of these color transparencies, to exhibit to prospective customers a true representation of the blankets or carpets, not only from the point of view of design, but also color.

Of course the exhibition of these transparencies at various locations remote from the articles themselves necessitates the transportation of the transparencies and their repeated exhibiting. The conditions under which this exhibiting takes place of course vary, particularly with the kind and value of the light.

It has heretofore been usual to place the transparency against a window in order to obtain the necessary light for viewing. It will be realized that the character and intensity of such light will vary. At times this type of transparency is viewed by placing it in close proximity to a source of artificial light, but here again the character and intensity of the light varies with a generally unsatisfactory result, because of the fact that the various lights affect the transparency in different ways and a consistent exhibition is thus not obtained.

The present invention has for an object to exhibit the transparencies under the same conditions of light, regardless of the location of the exhibition.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an exhibition device which is so constructed that the transparencies may be successively and easily exhibited, and which will be protected during transportation to different locations for exhibition, and during such exhibition.

I have illustrated one form of an embodiment of the invention in the drawing, but it is to be understood that I am not to be confined to that (Cl. 40—130) particular form, except insofar as is necessitated by the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment 5 of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2—2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the source of light.

Referring now to the form of the invention illustrated in the drawing, a case consisting of two members I and 2 is provided. These members are hinged together at 3. I have illustrated this case as of the type where the two hinged members are foldable to complete the case and are secured together by a zipper ¢, but it is to be understood that this particular form of case is not essential as its construction may be varied without affecting the invention.

Adjacent and preferably in line with the hinge 3 a plurality of transparency carriers 5 are hingedly mounted, these carriers being adapted to support transparencies 6.

In the form of the invention illustrated I have shown split rings 1 on which the transparency carriers 5 may be mounted so that they may lie within the case member I or the case member 2, as illustrated in Figure 1 at 8 and 9 respectively, or they may be maintained in an upstanding posi30 tion as represented in Figure 1 by the carrier 5.

Of course the form of the means for hingedly attaching the transparency carriers 5 to the case is not essential, but it is desirable to have this means so constructed that carriers may be at35 tached and removed as desired.

A lamp 10 is mounted in one of the case members, I for instance, and is attachable to a source of electric supply by the usual wire and plug 11 and 12 respectively.

This lamp 10 is preferably cylindrical in form and of greater length than the transparency itself. It is also preferably of a light diffusing type.

In order that a carrier 5 with its transparency may be supported in an upright position in ⁴⁸ front of the lamp 10 so that the transparency may be conveniently viewed, I have provided a detent 13 which is hinged at 14 to the case. The free end of this detent is bent at 15 toward the path of movement of the edge of the carrier 5 which edge may be reinforced as at 16, for instance. This inwardly turned portion 15 of the detent is provided with a notch IT in which the edge of the carrier 5 may be seated to thus maintain the carrier in its upright position in front ⁶⁸ of the lamp 10. The inwardly turned end 15 of

2,298,754 the detent is normally urged toward the path of movement of the edge of the carrier 5 by a springpressed plunger (8 which is part of a standard plunger type of electrical switch 19. This switch is interpolated in the wire 11 and the automatic movement of the plunger 18 under the influence of its actuating spring 18' normally maintains the electric circuit to the lamp incomplete. However, when the carrier is moved into its upright position and forces the detent 13 outwardly about its hinge 6, the plunger 18 is actuated and completes the electric circuit to the lamp through the switch blades 18”.

On the other hand, when the detent 13 is freed from the carrier 5, the plunger 18 will be permitted, under the influence of its spring, to move and break the circuit.

In order that the engagement and disengagement of the carrier 5 with the detent 13 may be automatic, I have provided the inwardly turned portion 15 of the carrier with cam faces 19 and 20 on which the edge of the carrier rides when it is moved from a flat position on either of the case members I or 2 into its upright position and into the notch 17. The notch 17 is also provided with cam faces 21 which enable the carrier to be moved toward either of the case members i or 2 and to automatically disengage the detent from its edge by forcing it outwardly about its pivot 14.

In the form of the invention illustrated the movement of the detent i 3 into the path of movement of the edge of the carrier 5 is limited by an abutment 22, so that the cams 19', 20 and 21 will always be properly positioned in respect to the edge of the carrier.

Of course it is to be understood that the switch 19 with its plunger 18 may be entirely eliminated if desired, and in such event the detent 13 will be maintained in its proper positions by means of a suitable spring.

It will be realized that with this construction the transparencies with their carriers, the lamp, the wire and the plug, may be housed within the case and thus protected during transportation.

Furthermore, the transparencies themselves will be protected because of the fact that they are mounted on the carriers 5 and thus need never be handled during exhibition.

Moreover the lamp 10, as stated, is of a light diffusing type and preferably of an elongated cylindrical form, and will, when the transparencies are being exhibited, be a definite and consistent distance from the transparencies and the value of the light will always be the same, so that a true exhibition of the design and color of the objects that are depicted on the transparency may be had.