Abstract: A package merchandiser providing for front and rear stacks of packages resting on a common sloping surface, with a rotating gate positioned between the two stacks to prevent the rear stack to slide to the position of the front stack while packages remain in the front stack. The rotating gate releases when no packages remain in the front stack, allowing the packages in the rear stack to move forward. A control cam associated with the rotating gate to additionally control motion of the rotating gate.

Abstract: A display formed of two colorless, transparent plastic cylinders mounted concentrically with a vertical axis upon a base. The space between the two cylinders forms a tank which is filled with liquid and some plastic snowflakes having a slightly greater specific gravity than the liquid. An object to be displayed is positioned within the inner cylinder and, so, is not in contact with the liquid. The object and the liquid are illuminated by a light within the base. A motor operates a pump having an uncased spiral rotor projecting vertically downwardly into the liquid. Rotation of the pump causes a diffuse upward flow of the liquid and the snowflakes in the vicinity of the pump. Though this causes the snowflakes to move upwardly in a gentle and diffuse manner, this motion isn't particularly noticed by an observer. When the snowflakes reach the top of the liquid, they are diffused sidewardly and begin dropping, creating a snowfall effect.

Abstract: The method of making a roller shelf for the display and dispensing of wares which includes molding a plurality of groups of molded parallel axles and rollers as a unit and with a common mold runner, the groups each having the same number of axles, providing a pair of side rails having opposed complementary bearing recesses, the number of the bearing recesses being an integral multiple of the number of axles in the groups, simultaneously inserting the axles of a group into the bearing recesses, fixing the axles in the recesses, and breaking off the runner. The roller shelf can have spaced rollers or interleaved and overlapping rollers.

Abstract: A display providing the illusion of a stream of liquid coming from an unconnected spigot, the stream flowing into a receptacle. A transparent tube, hidden within the stream, runs from the receptacle to the spigot to carry the liquid upwardly to the spigot. A second tube, colorless and transparent, surrounds the stream of water, to prevent evaporation and accidental spillage on a person. A small colorless and transparent air tube runs from the receptacle upwardly between the inner and outer tubes to a mixing chamber at the top of the tubes. Air is drawn upwardly through the tube by a Venturi effect within the mixing chamber and mixes with the water. As a result, the downwardly flowing water is filled with bubbles and can be seen.

Abstract: An illuminated picture display having a surrounding scintilating show of lights, including a housing holding a front half-silvered mirror and a rear mirror, the mirrors being proximate to one another and at a small angle to one another, congruent openings in the mirrors to receive a transparency for display, a light within the housing for illuminating the transparency, a plurality of lamps between the mirrors along the periphery, and a programmed timer causing the lamps to blink on and off in predetermined sequence, and a refraction plate mounted in front of the front half-silvered mirror proximate to the opening in the front mirror, so that the transparency is displayed surrounded by a flashing light display. A fiber optics system may be used instead of the plurality of lamps.

Abstract: A remote-controlled motor-driven drum is provided to wind and unwind a cord which holds a self-balancing sign carrier. The sign carrier, which has telescoping rails, is adjustable in width. Its center rail includes two sheaves to receive the cord and lead it from the drum back to an end secured to the ceiling. Thus, rotation of the drum serves to raise and lower the sign carrier and a sign carried by it. The sheaves on the carrier not only allow it to be raised and lowered, but also serve to make the unit self-balancing The user attaches a sign to the carrier when it is in its lowered position and then raises the sign and carrier to the ceiling. The motor, which is reversible, is remotely controlled either by wires leading between the motor and a switch or by radio control (with a control similar to that used on a garage door).