Display case for jewelry and the like
This is a divisional application of U.S. Application Ser. No. 466,632, filed Feb. 15, 1983, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,882. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Display cases are used in many stores to display items for sale, particulary small and valuable items which some members of the public might otherwise be tempted to misappropriate. As is well known, both floor mounted and counter mounted display cases are known. The present invention is directed to a counter mounted display case for displaying relatively small items for sale such as small items of jewelry. 
     In the prior art, counter mounted display cases have been utilized which are fully capable of displaying several items of jewelry or other small items and keeping them relatively secure. For example, prior art display cases are known which are formed of an upright cylindar of transparent plastic of about one foot in diameter and eighteen inches in heigth. An axially arranged rod holds two end caps securely in place and the displayed jewelry is supported from the rod. 
     The jewlry displayed in the case is preferably changed from time to time as the store changes its stock with the seasons. Usually the case remains the property of the distributor who sells the jewelry to the store. Typically the entire case is returned to the distributor for updating its contents while the distributor&#39;s sales force substitutes an updated case for the case presently being used at the store. 
     This requires the distributor to maintain a number of display cases merely to support the aforedescribed process of substitution and updating the contents of the cases. Of course, these display cases are not then being used to market jewelry. As might be expected, this prior art display case system requires considerable capital investment for (1) the display cases actively being used in the retail stores, (2) the jewelry sealed in those display cases, (3) the display cases reserved to support the substitution and updating process and (4) the jewelry in the last mentioned display cases. 
     It was therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved display case for jewelry or the like items requiring less capital investment than the prior art designs and being relatively easy to update with new design items, yet secure. 
     It was another object to provide a case having modular display units. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a display case is provided which has a plurality of interchangeable modules recieved on a support stand including a planar receiving surface for supportung the modules. Fastening devices are provided to temporarily fasten the modules to the receiving surface. Each of the modules includes a display device mounted on a planar support surface and a window unit including a transparent front window. Fastening devices are provided to temporarily fasten the window units to the support surfaces of the modules. The planar support surfaces are disposed essentially parallel and adjacent to the receiving surface when the modules are received on the support stand. 
    
    
     THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment with reference to the following drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the modular display case; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial side elevational view partially in section thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an individual module; 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of an individual module; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an individual module; 
     FIG. 6 is an underside plan view of the complete assembly; and 
     FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of an alternative embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 depicts a view in perspective of the modular display case 1 with one of the modules 10 shown partially removed. The case 1 in this embodiment has six modules 10 and a support stand 11. The modules are securely, but releasably, attached to a planar receiving surface 12 on stand 11 by means of fastening devices 14, 16 (FIGS. 2 and 5). The stand 11 preferably includes a base with rotary bearing 13 to permit the case 1 to be easily rotated by potential customers desiring to view the items displayed in the individual modules 10. 
     Turning to FIGS. 2 through 6, each module 10 defines in plan view an equilateral triangle and includes a similarly shaped display device 21 mounted therein. Display devices 21 each hold a plurality of individual items being offered for sale, such as jewelry (i.e. rings, earrings, watches, etc.), which items are conventionally supported by small fabric cushions (not shown) disposed in the small triangular compartments therein. 
     Each module 10 is preferably fashioned of two units, a window unit 22 and a base unit 23, both made primarily of plastic materials. Window unit 22 includes a planar transparent plastic sloping front window 25 through which the items disposed on device 21 may be viewed and two preferably transparent side walls 26 integrally joined to window 25. The base unit 23 includes a planar bottom piece 27 to which device 21 is attached and the window unit 22 is securely, but releasably, attached thereto by means of fastening devices 28. As can be easily seen by reference to FIG. 2, fastening devices 28 preferably comprise countersinking machine screws which pass through holes 29 in bottom piece 27 to engage threaded holes 30 in flanges 31 on the inwardly facing edges of side walls 26. 
     When received on surface 12, all the side walls 26 of the window units 22 intersect in a common line which also defines the axis of rotation of rotary bearing 13 and the bottom pieces 27 are disposed adjacent to surface 12. 
     Fastening devices 14, 16 are preferably provided by machine screws 14 and nuts 16. Machine screws 16 pass through openings in display device 21, openings 24 in bottom piece 27 and hence through openings 15 in receiving surface 12. The heads of screws 14 are hidden from view through window unit 22 by display device 21 and the cushions therein. Screws 14 engage nuts 16 to securely attach modules 10 to receiving surface 12 of stand 11. 
     When it is desired to substitute a module in use with a module having updated items, one merely unfastens nuts 16 of that module, removes it, replaces it with the updated module and refastes nuts 16 to the screws 14 eminating from the updated module after they have been passed through holes 15 in receiving surface 12. 
     The outdated module may then be disassembled when convenient by temporarily removing screws 28 permitting the window unit 22 to be separated from its base unit 23 and giving access to display device 21. Then one or more and perhaps all the items (i.e. pieces of jewelry and the like) may be easily replaced with updated items. Of course, screws 28 are thence returned to their normal positions locking the window unit 22 to the base unit 23. 
     DESCRIPTION OF ANOTHER EMBODIMENT 
     Turning to FIG. 7 there is depicted an alternative embodiment which may be used alone or in combination with the just described preferred embodiment. The display case 1&#39; of FIG. 7 is shown having three modules 10&#39; arranged side-to-side such that the windows 25&#39; of alternating modules 10&#39; share a common plane. 
     The modules 10&#39; are preferably identical to the modules 10 previously described with reference to FIGS. 2-6. Thus display cases 1&#39; may be used in those applications where fewer modules are required, yet full interchangeability is provided between the modules used on the display case 1 of FIG. 1 and the display case 1&#39; of FIG. 7. 
     Case 1&#39; preferably has an appropriately shaped receiving surface 11&#39; for securing modules 10&#39; thereto. 
     Having described the invention with respect to certain specific embodiments thereof, modification will now suggest itself to those skilled in the art. The invention itself is not to be limited to the embodiments disclosed except as required by the accompanying claims.