초록 ▼

A display case security apparatus comprises a housing, a platform, an elevating mechanism, and a closure. The housing includes a lower storage section and an upper display section disposed above the storage section. The storage section has an opaque exterior wall and the display section has an exter

A display case security apparatus comprises a housing, a platform, an elevating mechanism, and a closure. The housing includes a lower storage section and an upper display section disposed above the storage section. The storage section has an opaque exterior wall and the display section has an exterior wall that is at least partially transparent. The platform is disposed within the housing and includes a generally horizontal portion for supporting articles to be displayed. The platform is selectively movable in the vertical direction between a first position, wherein any articles supported on the platform are in the display section of the housing, and a second position, wherein any articles supported on the platform are in the storage section of the housing. The elevating mechanism is mounted within the housing and includes a linear actuator that is selectively extendable along a straight line axis between a retracted position and an extended position. The linear actuator is connected between the housing and the platform and is positioned so that the straight line axis is oriented vertically. The platform moves between the first position and the second position when the linear actuator moves between the extended position and the retracted position, respectively. The closure is selectively interposed between the display section and the storage section when the platform is in the second position, enclosing the platform and any articles supported thereon within the storage section of the housing.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A display case security apparatus comprising:a housing including a lower storage section and an upper display section disposed above the storage section, the storage section having an opaque exterior wall and the display section having an exterior wall that is at least partially transparent; a pl

1. A display case security apparatus comprising:a housing including a lower storage section and an upper display section disposed above the storage section, the storage section having an opaque exterior wall and the display section having an exterior wall that is at least partially transparent; a platform disposed within tire housing for supporting articles to be displayed, the platform being selectively movable in the vertical direction between a first position, wherein any articles supported on the platform are in the display section of the housing, and a second position, wherein any articles supported on the platform ax, in the storage section of the housing; an elevating mechanism mounted within the housing, the elevating mechanism including a linear actuator that is selectively extendable along a straight line axis between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, the linear actuator being connection between the housing and the platform and positioned so that the straight line axis is oriented vertically, whereby the platform moves vertically between the first position and the second position when the linear actuator moves between the extended configuration and the retracted configuration, respectively; and a closure that is selectively interposed between the display section and the storage section when the platform is in the second position, whereby the platform and any articles supported thereon are enclosed within the storage section of the housing. 2. The display use security apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vertical footprint of the elevating mechanism does not change as the platform moves between the first position and the second position.3. The display case security apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connection between the linear actuator and the platform prevents horizontal translation or tipping of the platform.4. The display case security apparatus of claim 3, wherein the linear actuator is rigidly connected to the platform.5. The display ease security apparatus of claim 3, wherein the connection between the linear actuator and the platform allows rotation about a vertical axis only.6. The display case security apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a external drawer section disposed below the storage section, the external drawer section being isolated from the storage section and accessible from the exterior of the housing regardless of the position of the platform.7. The display case security apparatus of claim 6, wherein a portion of the elevating mechanism is disposed in the external drawer section and extends vertically upward into the storage section of the housing.8. The display case security apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a security wall disposed between the storage section and the external drawer section of the housing, the security wall having a vertical passage way formed there through dimensioned to admit only the elevating mechanism.9. The display case security apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a least one storage drawer slidably mounted in the external drawer section and accessible from the exterior of the housing.10. The display case security apparatus of claim 9, wherein: the linear actuator is centered side-to-aide wider the platform and extends into the external drawer section; anda least one storage drawer is slidably mounted in the external drawer section on each side of the linear actuator, the storage drawers both being accessible from the exterior of the housing. 11. The display case security apparatus of claim 9, wherein:the elevating mechanism comprises two linear actuators spaced-apart under the platform and extending into the external drawer section; and at least one storage drawer is slidably mounted in the external drawer section between the two linear actuators, the storage drawer being accessible from the exterior of the housing. 12. The display case security apparatus of claim 1, wherein the maximum lateral width of the elevating mechanism is less than about 25% of the maximum lateral width of the platform.13. The display case security apparatus of claim 12, wherein the maximum lateral width of the elevating mechanism is less than about 15% of the maximum lateral width of the platform.14. A display case security apparatus comprising:a housing including a storage section and a display section disposed adjacent the storage section, the display section having an exterior wall that is as least partially transparent; a platform disposed within the housing for supporting articles to be displayed, the platform being selectively movable along an axis of movement between a first position, wherein any articles supported on the platform are positioned in the display section of the housing, and a second position, wherein any articles supported on the platform are positioned in the storage section of the housing; at least one linear actuator that is selectively extendable along a straight line axis between a retracted position and an extended position, the linear actuator being connected between the housing and the platform and oriented so that the straight line axis is parallel to the axis of movement of the platform, whereby moving the linear actuator between the extended and retracted positions moves the platform between the flint and second positions, respectively; and a closure that is selectively interposed between the display section and the storage section when the platform is in the second position, whereby the platform and any articles supported thereon are enclosed within the storage section of the housing. 15. The display case security apparatus of claim 14, wherein the linear actuator further comprises:an outer tube member having a first longitudinal axis that defines the straight-line axis of the actuator; a inner member having a second longitudinal axis, the inner member being dimensioned to telescope within the outer tube member so as to maintain the first and second longitudinal axes in parallel when moving between the extended configuration and the retracted configuration; and an extending mechanism that selectively extends and retracts the inner member with respect to the outer tube member. 16. The display case security apparatus of claim 15, wherein the extending mechanism further comprises:a threaded shaft disposed substantially parallel to the straight-line axis and connected to one of the inner member and outer tube member so as to prevent relative translation there between along the straight-line axis: a nut member operably engaging the threaded shaft and connected to the other of the inner member and outer tube member so as to prevent relative translation there between along the straight-line axis; and whereby relative rotational motion between the threaded shaft and the nut member in a first direction extends the linear actuator and relative rotational motion between the threaded shaft and the nut member in the opposite direction retracts the linear actuator. 17. The display case security apparatus of claim 15, wherein the extending mechanism further comprises:a first threaded shaft disposed substantially parallel to the straight-line axis and connected to one of the inner member and outer tube member so as to prevent relative translation there between along the straight-line axis; a second threaded haft disposed substantially parallel to the straight-line axis and connected to the other of the inner member and outer tube member so as to prevent relative translation there between along the straight-line axis; a nut member operably engaging the first threaded shaft and the second threaded shaft; and whereby relative rotational motion between the threaded shafts and the nut member in a first direction extends the linear actuator and relative rotational motion between the threaded shafts and the nut member in the opposite direction retracts the linear actuator. 18. The display case security apparatus of claim 15, wherein the extending mechanism further comprises a hydraulic pump for selectively adding or withdrawing fluid from a chamber formed between the outer tube member and the inner member.19. The display case security apparatus of claim 15, wherein the extending mechanism further comprises a pneumatic pump for selectively adding or withdrawing air from a chamber formed between the outer tube member and the inner member.20. The display case security apparatus of claim 14, wherein the display section is positioned above the storage section and the axis of movement of the platform is substantially vertical.21. The display case security apparatus of claim 14, wherein the display section is positioned below the storage section and the axis of movement of the platform is substantially vertical.22. The display case security apparatus of claim 14, wherein the display section is positioned horizontally adjacent to the storage section and the axis of movement of the platform is substantially horizontal.23. A display case security apparatus comprising:a housing having a front side and a rear side and including a storage section and a display section, the display section being disposed in a first direction relative to the storage section and having an exterior wall that is at least partially transparent; a platform disposed within the housing for supporting articles to be displayed, the platform being selectively movable between a first position, wherein any articles supported on the platform are in the display section of the housing, and a second position, wherein any articles supported on the platform are in the storage section of the housing; an elevating mechanism mounted within the housing and connected between the housing and the platform, the elevating mechanism including a linear actuator being selectively movable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, whereby the platform moves between the first position and the second position when the elevating mechanism moves between the extended configuration and the retracted configuration, respectively; a closure that is selectively interposed between the display section and the storage section when the platform is in the second position, whereby the platform and any articles supported thereon are enclosed within the storage section of the housing; a external drawer section disposed in a second direction relative to the storage section, the second direction being opposite the first direction, the external drawer section being isolated from the storage section and accessible from the exterior of the housing regardless of the position of the platform; and at least one storage drawer slidably mounted in the external drawer section and accessible from the exterior of the housing. 24. The display case security apparatus of claim 23, wherein a portion of the elevating mechanism is disposed in the external drawer section and extends into the storage section of the housing.25. The display case security apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a security wall disposed between the storage section and the external drawer section of the housing, the security wall having a passageway formed there through dimensioned to admit only the elevating mechanism.26. The display case security apparatus of claim 23, wherein:the elevating mechanism is centered side-to-side with respect to the platform and extends into the external drawer section; and at least one storage drawer is slidably mounted in the external drawer section on each side of the linear actuator, the storage drawers both being accessible from the exterior of the housing. 27. The display case security apparatus of claim 23, wherein the maximum lateral width of the elevating mechanism, regardless of its configuration, is less than about 25% of the maximum lateral width of the platform.