US1337836A - Gilbert - Google Patents

Description

J. T. GILBERT.

DEVICE Fon USE IN BUYING ICE.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920 APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10, 1918.

.IEIHN DUE.

IEnEIEI-NEMIZI 5T.

A TTOHNEYS J. T. GILBERT. DEVICE FOR USE IN BUYING ICE.

y APPLICATION FILED DEC. I0. 1918- 1,337,836. Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

JOI-IN TEXAS GILBERT, OF DE FUNIAK SPRINGS, FLORIDA.

DEVICEIOR USE' IN BUYING ICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

Application led December 10, 1918. Serial No. 266,072.

To all whom. t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. GILBERT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of De Funiak Springs, in the county of Walton and State of Florida, have invented a new and Improved Device for Use in Buying Ice, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description.

My invention while adapted for other purposes is more particularly intended for embodiment in a device for use by a householder in the purchase of ice, and the invention especially relates to a device adapted to be placed at the exterior of a house whereby a coin, ticket or equivalent token may be deposited in a receptacle provided therefor, and a signal be displayed indicating the amount of the desired purchase.

The general 'object of the invention is to provide in connection with the coin or ticket receptacle various appurtenances each having a special purpose and function, as follows, to wit: (1) a closure for the receptacle with means to lock the same in the closed position, together with a spring normally tending to raise the closure upon release of locking means by the iceman; (2) a series of drop signals bearing numerals or symbols indicating different quantities of ice may optionally be displayed by the householder, and be readily observed by the iceman at a distance; (3) means to prevent children or unauthorized persons from tampering with or altering the displayed signal; (4) means whereby the signals will be automatically restored from the display position by the raising of the cover of the coin or ticket receptacle. Other objects and the advantages-of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.v

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, which it is to be understood are merely illustrative of 4one example of the invention. Y Y Y Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying niy invention, showing .the vsame in the supported position with one ofthe price or quantity signals displayed;

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof;

Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse vertical sec tions approximately onthe line 4-4, Fig. 3, showing the closure of the receptacle in the raised position, and Fig. 4 showing the closure in the lowered and locked position;

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the device with the back plate removed and other parts broken away or partly in section, one signal being in display position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 5, showing certain parts after the frame carrying the closure of the receptacle has been released and said frame has started to move upwardly carrying with it the signal to be restored.

, Fig. is a horizontal section on the line !-7, Fig. 5.

In carrying out my invention in practice a suitable casing 10 is provided securable to a wall A or other support by any suitable means, there being indicated bracket bars 11 at the back of said casing. On the casing at the front is a suitable holder 12 to receive a name plate or card 13.

A receptacle 14 is provided on the casing at the frontadapted to receive a coin, ticket or other token, said receptacle in the illustrated forni having the top and a portion of the front thereof open for the convenient placing and removal of the token B for the purchase of the quantity of ice or other commodity as indicated by signals hereinafter described. A movable closure 15 is provided on the receptacle 14, here shown as adapted for vertical reciprocating movement to the open or closed position, the closure having a funnele'd inlet 16 for the coin. Said closure is supported on the front of a vertically movable frame 17 beneath the top cross bar of which is a suitable spring 19 here shown as semielliptical, tending to normally raise said frame to carry the cover to .an open position. The frame includes `side bars 20 and a bottom cross bar 21, said bars sliding in grooves in the sides of the casing 10. In the lowering of the frame 17 to lower the closure 15 on the receptacle, the spring 19 is placed under compression as indicated in full lines Fig. 5 to lock the frame into lowered position. A latch 23 is provided on the cross bar 21, the latch in the illustrated example depending from the said bar and adapted to be engaged by a pin 24 on a lock bar 25, disposed transversely in the casing beneath the bar 2l. The bar 25 is adapted to be shifted laterally to release the catch 2S and permit the spring 19 to raise the frame 17 for lifting the closure 15. It is designed that the bar 25 be unlocked. by the icemali or other person delivering the goods desired, for which purpose the ends of the bar are slidably supported in recesses 2G in the casing 10 and a spring 27 suitably secured the to the casing and engaging said'bar normally tends to hold said bar in position with pin 24 in locked engagementV with the latch 23. A key 23 inserted in a keyhole 29 is adapted to engage the end of the bar 25 to move the same to release position.

In the casing 10 I provide a series of signals 30, here shown as drop plates having guided movement between guide flanges 1()L within the casing 10. rlhe signals are supported in the raised position by pins 31 and in moving vertically the pins have clearance in vertical openings or slots 33 in the signals. Then a signal drops to the lowered position which is permitted only when the cover frame 17 is lowered, said signal is supported by a lug or pin 32 thereon resting on the cross bar 2l of said frame. rlhe supporting pin 31 in the raised position of the signal 3() is beneath a shoulder formed by a lug 37 in the slot 33 of the signal. Said pins 31 are each carried by a pushrod 34 having a coil spring 35 thereon adjacent to the head 35 which ris at the exterior of the casing, there being a series of suchrods corresponding with the number of signals on each head bearing a separate quantity or price mark such as shown in Fig. 2 to indicate to the iceman or other merchant or delivery man the amount to be delivered. The several signals 30 have price or quantity marks corresponding with the respective heads 36. In the lateral movement of the pin 31 by an inward movement ofits pushrod 34, saidpin has clearance in a transverse slot 39in the casing 10.

In Figs. 1 and 5 the closure 15 is in closed position, the frame 17 being locked in the lowered position and the central signal is also shown in the lowered position to display its numeral or price mark 25, its supporting pin 31 having been released from the shoulder 37, thereby bringing the lug 32 to the position of rest on the cross bar 21. The iceman may now insert the key 29 and Vshift the bar 25 laterally to release the catch 23 which will-permit the spring` 19 to raise the frame 17 and cover 15. At the same time the upward movement of the cross bar 21 by engagement with the lug 32 will restore the signal to its original position.

The coin having been taken from the receptacle 14 the frame 17 will be lowered and by reason of the action of the spring 27 the latch 23 will automatically be engaged again with the pin 24, the signal 30, however, be-

ing held in the raised position by engagement of the pin 31 tting the lug 37, it being understood that the spring 35 of each pushrod 34 will always tend to maintain the pin 31 in a position to engage beneath the lug 37. rlhe upper end of said lug 37 is beveled to engage the pin 31 and shift the rod 34 against the action of the spring 35.

In order to lock the signal in its lowered position and thereby prevent its being tampered with by unauthorized parties, I provide latch means associated with each signal. In the illustrated example there is on each signal a lateral movable latch 40 carried by a spring 41 secured to .the signal, the latch being adapted to'be accommodated in the plane of the signal in a recess 42 provided in the signal. In the lowered position of a signal, the latch 40 will .engage beneath the locking bar 25. Il7lien',however, said locking bar 25 is shifted laterally by the key 29 a slot 43in said lock bar will be brought into register with thelatch 40,7thereby permitting the latter clearance to beY carried'upwardly Vwith the upward movement of the signal 30. i

I would state in conclusion that whilethe illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself strictly to the Vmechanical details herein illustrated, since manifestly the same can be considerably varied without Ad`epar-- ture from the spirit of the invention as delined inthe appended claims.V Y i Having thus described my invention I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent :--Y e Y Y 1. Adevice of the class described including a receptacle, a closure therefor, a vertically reciprocating frame carrying said closure, means to hold'theclosure and frame in the lowered position, and drop signals selectively movable to a lowered signaling position independently of the frame when the closure is in the closed position VandV engageable by the frame in an upward move-- ment of the latter to restore the signal with the raising of the closure, and manually operatedA means for selectively releasing said signals to cause the same to fall to signaling position.

2. A device of the class described includingY areceptacle, a closure therefor, a vertically reciprocating frame carrying said closure, means to lock said frame in the lowered position, a drop signal movable to a lowered signaling position independently -ofthe frame when the closure is in the closed position, latch means independent vof the frame Yto automatically lock the signal in the signaling position, said latch means bci-ng re-Y leasedby the unlocking ofthe frame locking means, r'and said signal adapted to be restored to its raised position'bythe raising of 3. A device of the class described including `a receptacle, a closure therefor, means to `lock the closure 'in theA closed position, a

drop' signal movable toa lowered position,

meansto automatically lock the signal in the signaling position, and means to release said signal by the unlocking of 'said closure, and Vtov restore said signal to the original position with the raising of the closure.

' iso 4. A device of the class described including a receptacle, a closure therefor, a frame carrying said closure and adapted to be vertically reciprocated to bring the closure to the closed or open position, a series of drop signals, pins to hold the individual signals in the raised position, and means separately operable to displace an individual pin and permit a-selected signal to drop, the frame in the lowered position limiting the downward movement of the signals and the signals being movable from a lowered to a raised position by the upward movenient of the frame.

5. A device of the class described including a casing, a receptacle thereon at the exterior, a closure for said receptacle, a frame carrying said closure and adapted to be vertically reciprocated in the casing to bring the closure to the open or closed position, a transversely disposed locking bar below the frame, coacting latch means on the frame and locking bar and adapted to engage when the Jframe is in the lowered position, a drop signal in the casing movable to a lowered signaling position independently of the :frame when the latter is in the latched position, said signal being movable by the upward movement of the frame to restore the signal to its raised. position, and a spring-pressed latch carried by the signal and adapted to engage beneath the locking bar when the signal is in the lowered position, said locking bar being movable transversely to release the frame and having a notch therein normally out of register with the latch on the signal but adapted to register with said latch by the release movement of the locking bar.

JOHN TEXAS GILBERT.

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