US2457302A - Display device for foodstuffs - Google Patents

Description

H. E. CHRISTENSEN EI'AL DISPLAY DEVICE FQKFOODS'I'UFFS Dec. 28, 1948.

Filed Oct. 11, 1945 Patented Dec. 28, 1948 DISPLAY DEVICE FOR FOODSTUFFS Harold E. Christensen, Wilmette, 111., John J. I Stein, Cleveland, Ohio, and Arthur S. Kester,

Chicago, Ill.

Application October 11, 1945, Serial No. 621,746

2 Claims.

This invention relates to display devices in general and more particularly to counter display devices for displaying foodstuffs, such as nuts, cookies, etc.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved illuminated display device wherein the source of illumination for the display device also provides heat for freshening or crisping the foodstuffs being displayed. In carrying out this object of the invention there is provided a base having an electric light bulb protruding therefrom and a transparent container for the foodstuff carried by the .base and provided with a recess for accommodating the electric light bulb whereby the foodstufi in they container is displayed to advantage and is maintained fresh and crisp. The container is also provided with an opening whereby the attractively displayed foodstuff may be directly dispensed in fresh and crisp condition. The compact nature of the display device and the central location of the course of light and heat also provides for eflicient lighting and heating. Such an arrangement, because of its heating as well as lighting characteristics, is also suitable for other displaying purposes, such as displaying tropical fish, and such further purposes as come within the purview of this invention.

Another object of this invention is to provide the display device with suitable electrical connections and fittings to facilitate tandem arrange ment of a plurality of such devices requiring only a single extension cord leading to a conventional plug in or wall plug. Further objects reside in the details of construction of the display device.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims and drawing in whlch- Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the display device;

Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating a plurality of display devices connected in tandem;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the display device of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the display device.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 3, the display device comprises a base Ill, a transparent container I I and a cover I2 providing access into the container II.

The base I includes side walls I3 which are cut away at I4 to provide legs I5 and which are also cut away at I6 to provide shoulders H for enhancing the appearance of the base. A floor I8 is located between the side walls I3 and is suitably secured thereto as by spot welding. The floor is is provided with an electric light socket I9 which faces upwardly and carries an electric light bulb 20. Electrical energy is supplied tothe socket I!) by an extension cord 2| provided with the usual plug 22 adapted to be inserted in the usual wall socket. Electrical energy is also supplied from the light bulb socket I9 by an electrical connection 23 to a female socket 24 suitably secured to the side wall l3 of the base Ill. The female socket 24 and the electric light socket I9 are connected in parallel and the female socket opens outwardl through the side wall I3 of'the base. The extension cord 2| may pass through a suitable grommet 25 in the side wall I3 of the base. 7

The transparent container. Il may .be made of glass or suitable plastic and comprises side walls merging into a bottom wall 3|. The bottom wall 3| is indented at 32 to provide an external recess 33 for accommodating the socket I9 and the light bulb 20 when the container I I is mounted on the base Ill. The upper end of the container I I is provided with an opening 34 to provide access into the container.

The cover l2 may be of usual construction formed from a plate 35 and having a flange 35 formed into screw threads for coacting with screw threads formed on the container I I adjacent the opening 34, If desired, the cover may be provided with a suitable gasket 31 for more positively sealing the opening 34 in the container.

The container II is mounted on the base II] by inserting it within the side walls I3 of the base In so that the bottom wall 3| of the container ll rests on the floor l8 of the base II]. A gasket 39 of resilient material may be inserted between the side wall I3 and the container II for more readily retaining the container II on the base In.

When electrical energy is supplied to the light bulb 20, the interior of the container II and also the foodstuffs contained therein are attractively illuminated, and the heat given off by the light bulb 20 is transmitted to the interior of the containerll for freshenlng and crisping the foodstuffs contained therein. The light bulb 20 associated with the arrangement herein disclosed, therefore performs two functions, that of attractively illuminating and displaying the foodstuifs within the transparent container II and that of heating the interior of the container II for freshening and crisping the foodstuff contained therein.

The female socket 24 being electrically connected in parallel to the electric light socket I9 permits ready association of a-plurality of display devices in tandem, as shown in Figure 2, where three display devices are illustrated and are designated at ID, IDA and IIIB. The extension cord 2IA of the base IUA is inserted in the female socket 24 of the base In and the exten sion cord 2IB of the base IOB is inserted in the female socket 24A of the base IDA. Thus when the plug 22 of the extension cord 2| is inserted in the usual wall outlet, the electric light bulbs in all of the devices will be connected in parallel and 1 simultaneously illuminated. Therefore, all of the display devices may be supplied with electrical energy from a single extension cord. This tandem arrangement 01 the display devices makes a Very attractive counter display and dispensing arrangement.

Figure 4 shows a slightly modified form of the display device. It utilizes the same base H], but the transparent container 4| is provided with an openin at the top of the container and at an angle to the base to provide access from the top and front of the container into the interior thereof. The opening into the container 4| may be provided with a suitable cover 42 similar to the cover l2 of Figure .1. Of course, this invention may also be utilized in connection with coin controlled dispensing machines and the like.

While for purposes of illustration two formscf this invention have been disclosed, other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilled in the art, and, therefore, this invention is to be'limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A food crisping and display device for displaying and crisping foodstuffs comprising a base having an electric light socket facing upwardly from the base for receiving an electric lightbulb to provide a source of heatand light, and a transparent container for the foodstuffs carried by the base and including a recess in the bottom thereof for accommodating the electric light bulb to heat and illuminate the container for displaying and crisping the foodstuffs therein, an opening at the top of the container to provide access into the container for dispensing the foodstuffs and a cover for the opening.

2. A food crisping and display device for displaying and crisping foodstufis comprising a base having a vertically extending flange around the top thereof and an electric light socket at the center of the base and facing upwardly therefrom for receiving an electric light bulb to provide a source of heat and light, and a transparent container for the foodstuffs carried by the base within the vertically extending flange and including a recess in th bottom thereof for accommodating the electric light bulb to heat and illuminate the container for displaying and crisping the foodstufis therein, an opening at the top of the container to provide access into the container for dispensing the foodstuffs and a cover for the opening.

HAROLD E. CHRISTENSEN.

JOHN J. STEIN.

ARTHUR S. KESTER.

REFEREIICES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 697,825 Fisk Apr. 15, 1902 1,144,508 Taylor June 29, 1915 1,767,262 Schmitz June 24, 1930 1,787,703 Rau Jan. 6, 1931 2,230,900 Neitzke Feb, 4, 1941

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