Showcase

Claim 2

A showcase comprising: a base having at least one wall with a non-decorative surface finish; a frame mounted on said base for supporting display fixtures; a plurality of decorative plastic panels secured to said wall of said base to cover said nondecorative surface; said panels being of at least two different types, similar in design appearance, but having different length and width dimensions; said different types of panels being modularly inter-related in that their length and width dimensions are whole number multiples of the side dimension of an imaginary square module; said wall having length and width dimensions which are approximately whole number multiples of said side dimension of said imaginary square module such that said side is covered by a combination of said different types of panels.

Claim 3

The showcase of claim 1 in which all of said panels are of equal thickness at their edges; said frame extending over the edge of said wall of said base a distance approximately equal to said edge thickness of said panels whereby said frame and said panels abutting said frame are generally flush along their line of intersection.

Claim 4

The showcase of claim 2 in which said base comprises a pair of end walls joining said one wall to define corners for said base; said one wall having a length which is less than a whole number multiple of said side dimension of said imaginary module by slightly more than twice said edge thickness of said panels; said end walls of said base having length and width dimensions which are approximately equal to whole number multiples of said side dimension of said imaginary square module with the length of each of said end walls being less than said whole number multiPle by approximately said edge thickness of said panels; said end walls being covered by said plurality of panels; said frame overhanging said end walls by a distance approximately equal to said edge thickness of said panels; each of said panels having a peripheral edge wall extending forwardly to a front wall which extends laterally inwardly therefrom; at least one of said panels on said one wall of said base being a corner panel, disposed at said corner and extending beyond on said corner by slightly more than said edge thickness of said panels; the top edge wall and the bottom edge wall of said corner panel being notched from the vertical edge wall disposed beyond said corner a distance approximately equal to said thickness of said panels; at least one of said panels covering said end wall being mounted at said corner such that it extends into said notches in said corner panel and is overlapped by said vertical edge wall of said corner panel which is disposed beyond said corner.

Claim 5

The showcase of claim 1 in which said panels have a decorative wood grain finish and are coated with a non-intumescent fire retardant paint.

Claim 6

The showcase of claim 1 in which said panels have a thin cross-section and have a peripheral edge wall extending rearwardly from a first front wall; said first front wall joining a rearwardly projecting second wall which joins a mounting wall which is generally perpendicular to said peripheral edge wall; said mounting wall being recessed a sufficient distance from said first front wall that its rear surface is approximately flush with the rear edge of said edge wall of said panel; said panel being secured to said base by means of two-faced adhesive tape which is adhered on one side to said rear surface of said mounting wall of said panel and on its other side to said base.

Claim 7

The showcase of claim 5 in which said panel also comprises screw mounting bosses on the rear side thereof whereby said panel can be alternatively bolted to said base or secured thereto by said two-faced tape.

Claim 8

The showcase of claim 1 in which three types of panels are provided for covering said base; one of said panels comprising a square having twice the side dimension of said imaginary square module; the second of said panels comprising a rectangle having a width equal to twice said side dimension of said imaginary module and a length equal to three times said side dimension of said imaginary square module; said third panel comprising a square having a side dimension which is three times the side dimension of said imaginary square module.

Claim 9

The showcase of claim 7 in which said imaginary square module has a side dimension of 4 inches.

Claim 10

The showcase of claim 1 which comprises: a load bearing support post; means for securing said post to the underside of said base; a leveler glide having a pad and a threaded post extending upwardly therefrom; a decorative, plastic sheath, having a decorative appearance compatible with the decorative appearance of said panels, being slidably mounted on said load bearing support post for encapsulating said post and at least a portion of said leveler glide.

Claim 11

The showcase of claim 9 in which said sheath has an aperture in the bottom thereof sufficiently large to allow said threaded post of said leveler glide to pass therethrough for threading into the bottom of said load bearing support post; said aperture being too small to allow passage of said pad therethrough, whereby said pad prevents said sheath from sliding off said leg during shipping and handling.

Claim 12

The showcase of claim 9 in which said decorative, plastic sheath has inwardly projecting ribs for engaging said post whereby said sheath is slidably and snugly mounted on said post.

Claim 13

The showcase of claim 11 in which said ribs are tapered at their inside edges adjacent said support post; said inside edges being farther apart at the top of said sheath to facilitate insertion of said support post into said sheath, but being closer together at the bottom of said Sheath whereby said ribs snugly engage said post at the bottom of said sheath.

Claim 14

The showcase of claim 2 in which said one wall is joined to a pair of end walls at either end of said base; said one wall having a length which is less than a whole number multiple of said side dimension of said imaginary module by approximately twice said edge thickness of said panels; said panels covering said one wall at the ends thereof extending beyond the junction of said one wall with said end walls by a distance approximately equal to said edge thickness of said panels; said frame overhanging said end walls by a distance approximately equal to said edge thickness of said panels whereby when a pair of said showcases are abutted endwise, their frames and their panels at the ends of said one wall abut; a decorative trim piece having a channel-shaped portion and a laterally extending flange portion being mounted on the rear edge of at least one of said end walls which is spaced from said one wall; said channel-shaped portion including a pair of spaced side walls joined together by a base wall, said channel-shaped portion of said trim piece being fitted over said rear edge of said one of said end walls to effectuate said connection therewith; said flange extending laterally from that side wall of said trim piece which embraces the exterior surface of said end wall whereby said flange extends into the gap formed between abutting showcases when they are placed in endwise abutment.

Claim 15

The showcase of claim 13 which further comprises: a base having a front wall and two rearwardly projecting end walls; a decorative trim piece having a channel-shaped portion and a laterally extending flange portion; said channel-shaped portion including a pair of spaced side walls joined together by a base wall; said channel-shaped portion of said trim piece being fitted over the rear edge of one of said end walls of said showcase; said flange extending laterally from that side wall of said trim piece which embraces the exterior surface of said end wall whereby said flange extends into any gap formed between abutting showcases.

Claim 16

The showcase of claim 13 in which said flange is tapered, being wider at its junction with said side wall of said trim piece and being narrower at its outer edge.

Claim 17

The showcase of claim 13 in which said trim piece is constructed of thin plastic material whereby said flange can be trimmed away when desired.

Claim 18

The showcase of claim 1 in which said whole number multiples include both odd and even numbers.

Claim 19

A showcase comprising: a base having a front wall and two rearwardly projecting end walls; a decorative trim piece having a channel-shaped portion and a laterally extending flange portion; said channel-shaped portion including a pair of spaced side walls joined together by a base wall; said channel-shaped portion of said trim piece being fitted over the rear edge of one of said end walls of said showcase; said flange extending laterally from that side wall of said trim piece which embraces the exterior surface of said end wall whereby said flange extends into any gap formed between abutting showcases.

Claim 20

A showcase comprising: a base having a front wall and two rearwardly projecting end walls; a decorative trim piece having a channel-shaped portion and a laterally extending flange portion; said channel-shaped portion including a pair of spaced side walls joined together by a base wall; said channel-shaped portion of said trim piece being fitted over the rear edge of one of said end walls of said showcase; said flange extending laterally from that side wall of said trim piece which embraces the exterior surface of said end wall whereby said flange extends into any gap formed between abutting showcases.

Claim 21

The showcase of claim 18 in which said trim piece is constructed of thin plastic material whereby said flange can be trimmed away when desired.

Claim 22

The showcase of claim 18 in which said flange includes a groove extending longitudinally of said trim piece whereby said flange can readily be trimmed away from the remainder of said trim piece.

Claim 23

The showcase of claim 18 in which said flange is tapered, being wider at its junction with said side wall of said trim piece and being narrower at its outer edge.

Claim 24

The showcase of claim 21 in which said side walls of said trim piece include ribs projecting laterally inwardly towards one another; said one of said end walls having a vertical groove therein on its inner and outer surface, each of which is matingly engaged by one of said ribs on said trim piece.