Ronald M Eckert

US Patent:

40225178, May 10, 1977

Filed:

Dec 8, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/638704

Inventors:

Ronald P. Eckert - Northbrook IL

Assignee:

Amity Leather Products Company - West Bend WI

International Classification:

A47B 4300
A47B 8700

US Classification:

312257R

Abstract:

A knockdown display case for small articles has rectangular floor and top boards mounted on extruded aluminum corner posts that have parallel side webs at 45. degree. to the edges of the boards engaged in notches in the boards, a connecting web which, with the side webs, defines a vertical, inwardly facing cavity for tubular lamps, and outward extensions on the side webs slidably receive a decorative strip that is parallel to the connecting web to define a wireway. Molded plastic end panels have vertical marginal portions extending outwardly at 135. degree. and snugly held in bifurcations of two post side webs; and each end panel has several spaced horizontal rows of inwardly projecting, narrow rectangular lugs that define vertical slots. Horizontal article supporting shelves and inclined article supporting racks are supported on the lugs and have webs engaged in the slots. The display case is open at both sides and may have racks facing in opposite directions, and a center divider panel that may be used slides between parallel vertical flanges formed integrally with lugs on the vertical median plane of the end panels.

US Patent:

42467136, Jan 27, 1981

Filed:

Jun 8, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/046802

Inventors:

Ronald P. Eckert - Northbrook IL

Assignee:

Thomas A. Schutz Co., Inc. - Morton Grove IL

International Classification:

G09F 1306
G09F 1312

US Classification:

40437

Abstract:

An illuminated advertising display device produces changing visual effects by placing a panel having a pattern of holes at the front of a light box with some of the holes defining alpha-numeric characters, and reciprocating behind the panel a shutter which has a pattern of transparent spots each of which registers with a hole in the panel at some point in the reciprocation of the shutter, with some of the spots registered simultaneously with all the holes that define the alpha-numeric characters. The panel has a forwardly facing reflective surface, and spaced forwardly of the panel is a light transmitting reflective sheet. If desired, the transparent spots may be tinted in several different colors.

US Patent:

41020693, Jul 25, 1978

Filed:

Jul 9, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/703958

Inventors:

Ronald P. Eckert - Northbrook IL

Assignee:

DLM, Inc. - Niles IL

International Classification:

G09F 1102

US Classification:

40497

Abstract:

A revolving self-service sales display device is provided which comprises a vertically disposed revolving carrousel or pedestal carried on a base, which base can be set on a counter top, on the floor or on stands of any desired height. The revolving pedestal has a plurality of pivotally mounted, radially projecting frames for displaying flat members, such as posters, in pockets on each side of each frame. Each frame is provided with guide members both top and bottom for guiding the flat members into and out of the pockets in the frame. The frames have shaped pivots which extend into openings formed in sloping surfaces of a hub or bar such that the weight of the frame will always pivot the frame into a position with the body of the frame projecting radially outward from the pedestal. The device may have one, two or more pedestals stacked end-on-end in tandom or it may be a vertical rectangular support with horizontal frame engaging bars.

US Patent:

49860178, Jan 22, 1991

Filed:

Oct 30, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/429046

Inventors:

Ronald P. Eckert - Prospect Heights IL

Assignee:

Thomas A. Schutz Co., Inc. - Morton Grove IL

International Classification:

G09F 706

US Classification:

40622

Abstract:

A sign board having a message portion and a display portion. The message portion has horizontal, evenly spaced grooves intersected by evenly spaced, vertically oriented grooves, the horizontal and vertical grooves being perpendicular to each other. Selected letter blocks are assembled in the grooves to convey a message. Adjacent the message portion is a display portion where a scene usually associated with the message is displayed. The board is rectangular in shape and can be mounted horizontally or vertically with the appropriate set of parallel grooves being used to compose the message. Optionally, the display portion can be backlighted.

US Patent:

42470102, Jan 27, 1981

Filed:

Aug 7, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/931834

Inventors:

Ronald P. Eckert - Northbrook IL

Assignee:

DLM, Inc. - Niles IL

International Classification:

A47F 500

US Classification:

211131

Abstract:

A display stand for displaying flat articles on edge, such as greeting cards and the like, has a base and a vertical column to which is assembled one or more tiers of upwardly angled housings having card-receiving pockets. Each tier has multiples of two housings located diametrically opposite each other on a mounting web, such that when four, six or eight housings are provided, the housings are equally spaced apart circumferentially by abutments on said webs. Each web has a column-engaging hub of reduced axial length which interfits with an axially displaced hub on an adjacent web to present a continuous axial hub to the column throughout the axial height of said tier. Tabs project upward and downward from each housing to interfit with tabs on housings on a tier above and/or below said housing. Each housing has a divider to make two pockets therein with openings in the lower corner of each pocket to permit dust and the like to fall out. A method of assembling each pair of housings, each tier of housings and each stack of tiers of housings is included.

US Patent:

42165997, Aug 12, 1980

Filed:

Sep 18, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/942940

Inventors:

Ronald P. Eckert - Northbrook IL

Assignee:

Thomas A. Schutz Co., Inc. - Morton Grove IL

International Classification:

G09F 1306

US Classification:

40451

Abstract:

A device for selectively displaying alphabetic or numeric characters has a housing which contains several stacked prefabricated subassemblies of any required number of units, each unit having an opaque front plate with a rectangular layout of light permeable spots; and there are film receiving slots with guides at both sides of each unit so that a selected part of a film member associated with a unit may abut the front plate while the rest of the film member is curved rearwardly through the slots. One type of film member has a geometric pattern of matching and contrasting elements which cooperate with light permeable spots forming a block number 8 to define any desired arabic numeral from 0 to 9; while another type of film member has a similar geometric pattern that cooperates with light permeable spots in several parallel vertical columns to define any letter of the alphabet. In either case, several matching and contrasting elements define parts of more than one character, so the film member is relatively short; and index numbers or letters along the top of the film member cooperate with an index element on the housing to visually indicate when a desired numeral or letter is defined.

US Patent:

RE307343, Sep 8, 1981

Filed:

Oct 26, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/955275

Inventors:

Ronald P. Eckert - Northbrook IL

Assignee:

DLM, Inc. - Niles IL

International Classification:

G09F 1102

US Classification:

40497

Abstract:

A revolving self-service sales display device is provided which comprises a vertically disposed revolving carrousel or pedestal carried on a base, which base can be set on a counter top, on the floor or on stands of any desired height. The revolving pedestal has a plurality of pivotally mounted, radially projecting frames for displaying flat members, such as posters, in pockets on each side of each frame. Each frame is provided with guide members both top and bottom for guiding the flat members into and out of the pockets in the frame. The frames have shaped pivots which extend into openings formed in sloping surfaces of a hub or bar such that the weight of the frame will always pivot the frame into a position with the body of the frame projecting radially outward from the pedestal. The device may have one, two or more pedestals stacked end-on-end in tandom or it may be a vertical rectangular support with horizontal frame engaging bars.

US Patent:

41299531, Dec 19, 1978

Filed:

Sep 29, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/837740

Inventors:

Ronald P. Eckert - Northbrook IL

Assignee:

DLM Inc. - Niles IL

International Classification:

G09F 112

US Classification:

40156

Abstract:

A unitary molded frame structure having a recessed back edge to receive a poster board or picture and a pair of duplicate slotted clamping members which slideably engage at least a pair of hook-like protrusions on the frame back and snap-engage over the edges of the poster board to hold it firmly within the frame. The clamping members provide multiple attaching means for hanging the frame at the desired attitude from a wall surface. Once assembled, the clamping means are recessed within the back of the frame against the back of the poster or a cardboard back-up sheet in a hidden position and the weight of the assembly in at least one hanging attitude biases the cooperating slot-protuberance combination into tighter engagement. The frame and clamping members are molded in a common mold with the clamping members co-planar within the inner opening of the frame and oriented and spaced in such a manner that they are readily broken out and are ready for assembly with the frame to hold a picture.