US2478272A

US2478272A - Measuring cup

Info

Publication number: US2478272A
Application number: US716541A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wendell W Jennings
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-12-16
Filing date: 1946-12-16
Publication date: 1949-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 1966-08-09

Description

Aug. 9, 1949. w. w. JENNINGS MEASURING cur Filed D90. 16, 1946 SEMI snubs olLs I (m PAPER cu?) a A 24 u n05 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Aug. 9, 1949 UNITED STATESF-PATENT OFFICE MEASURllfIG CUP Wendell W. Jennings, San Francisco, Calif. Application December 16, 1946, Serial No. 716,541

Claims. 1

This invention relates to, and it is an object to provide, an improved measuring cup for culinary use; the cup being designed for efiective use with dry ingredients, semi-solids or oils, and liquids.

Another object of the invention is to provide a measuring cup which is fitted with a. movable bottom whereby to selectively vary the capacity of the cup relative to an included scale; the cup having a handle, and there being a lever mechanism operative from the handle to cause such movement of the bottom to a selected position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a measuring cup adapted to receive an initially separate, disposable insert cup therein for the purpose of measuring certain ingredients, such as oils, semi-solids, etc.; both cups being transparent to facilitate the measuring operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, accurate, practical, and easy-to-use measuring cup, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved measuring cup, with the bottom in lowered position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the measuring cup in a raised position to reduce the capacity of the cup to a selected extent.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the measuring cup.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral I indicates a cylindrical cup, preferably of a transparent plastic, and fitted with a vertically movable bottom 2 of similar material; such bottom 2 including a dependent annular skirt 3 which guides said bottom for vertical sliding motion, with a close fit, in the cup I, whereby to selectively vary the capacity of the latter.

At its lower end the cylindrical cup I includes an annular stop 4 which prevents escape of the bottom 2 from said cup.

On one side the cup I is fitted with a rigid, laterally outwardly projecting handle 5 which is fiat in a vertical plane, and which handle extends substantially from top to bottom of the cup. The handle 5 includes a finger opening 6.

An actuating lever, a bellcrank type, indicated generally at I, is disposed with one leg 8 upstanding alongside the handle 5, and with the other leg 9 projecting inwardly through a slot It in the adjacent side of the cup I below the bottom 2. The bellcrank actuating lever 9 is pivoted, intermediate its ends, as at I I, to the handle 5 adjacent the slot I0.

Below the bottom 2 the leg 9 is formed with an ofifset, as at I2, so that the inner end portion of said leg may extend diametrally of the cup through an opposed fulcrum opening I3 formed in the lower end of a depending lug I4 fixed centrally on the bottom 2. It will be seen that upon swinging of the bellcrank actuating lever 'I, the leg 9 will cause vertical motion of the bottom 2 in the cup I.

15,. At the upper end of the leg 8 it is fitted with a thumb pad I5, and a laterally extending finger I5, which ridesfrictionally-on the upper edge ll of the handle 5; such edge being arcuate and concentric to the pivot II. Along said arcuate upper edge I'I it is notched at spaced points, as at I8, and adjacent each notch I8 there is an indicia I9 representing dry measurements. For

making dry measurements the user of the described measuring cup places the index finger through the opening 6 and the thumb on the pad I5, shifting the actuating lever I'l until the finger I6 drops into the notch I8 corresponding to the desired measurement as evidenced by the indicia I9. When this is done the bottom 2 is shifted, vertically, to a corresponding position in the cup I. Thereafter when the cup is filled, above the adjusted bottom, it will hold an amount corresponding to the set position of the lever I. For measuring semi-solids, oils, or the like, which might tend to gum the movable bottom 2, the latter is placed in its lowermost position, and the cup is used as follows:

An initially separate disposable cup 28, of wax paper or the like, is inserted in the cup I until the bottom of said cup 29 rests on the bottom 2. The disposable cup is transparent, as is the cup I, so that the ingredient to be measured may be placed in said disposable cup and read on a measuring scale 2| on the outside of cup I.

The initially separate, disposable cup 20 is formed of a size so that it projects upwardly somewhat, as at 22, to compensate for its displacement in the cup I. Further, the sides of the cup I taper from top to bottom, as at 23; the advantage being ease of initial manufacture, nesting for transport, and wedging of said cup 29 in the cup I in use so that ingredients may be poured from the device without displacement of said cup 29.

Under certain conditions, as for use with liquids such as milk, water, etc., the device may be used as a conventional, fixed measuring cup, by lowering the bottom 2 to its lowermost position and reading the contents on a scale 24 on the cu I alongside the scale 2 I.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention as set forth herein.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful. and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A measuring cup comprising a cup having a laterally projecting handle, a vertically movable bottom. slidably mounted tnthe clip, the cup being Provided with an opening in its side below the movable bottom. a bellcrank lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the handle for swinging in a vertical plane transversely of the cup, one leg. of the lever upstanding alongside the handle, the other leg. of. the lever projecting, inwardly through said opening and being connected. to the bottom, and a finger pad on said. one leg a.ccessiblefrom the handle.

2-. A measuring cup comprising. a cup having a laterally projecting handle. a vertically movable bottomslidably mounted in the cup. the cupsbeing provided with an opening in its side below the movable, bottom, a bellcrank. lever pivoted intermediate its. ends on the handle for swinging in. a vertical plane transversely of the cup-,,. one leg of. the lever upstanding, alongside the handle, thev other leg of the lever projecting inwardly through. said opening and connected to: the:

bottom, and a finger pad on said one leg. accessible from the: handle; said. one. leg having, a.

projecting element slidably but frictionally bearing against the. handle, there being spaced; elemen-t.- vreceiving; notches on the handle along: the 45 2,159 43 4 path of said element, and measurement indicia adjacent said notches.

3. A measuring cup comprising a cup having a laterally projecting handle, a vertically movable bottom slidably mounted in the cup, the cup being provided with an opening in its side below the movable bottom, a, bellcrank lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the handle for swinging in a vertical plane transversely of the cup, one leg of the lever upstanding alongside the handle, the other leg of the lever projecting inwardly through said opening and being connected to the bottom, and a finger pad on said one leg accessible from the handle; the handle having an arcuate upper edge concentric to the lever pivot, a laterally projecting finger on said one leg slidably but frictionally bearing on said edge, there being spaced finger receiving notches in said arcuate upper edge of the handle, and measurement indicia adjacent said notches.

4. A measuring cup as in claim 3 in which the handle has a finger opening therethrough; the finger pad being on said one leg above such finger opening.

5. A measuring cup comprising a transparent cup with measuring indicia on its side, a bottom slidably movable through said cup, the cup being provided with an opening in its side below the bottom, a beil crank lever pivoted adjacent the outside of the cup, one leg of the lever: extending. through said opening and being connected to the bottom, and the other leg. of the lever extending along the outside of the cup.

WENDELL W. JENNINGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 167,601 Aldrich Sept. 14, 1875 775,326 Bishop Nov. 22, 1904 2,157,262 Jansen May 9; 1939- Dickeson May 23 1939