US1520763A - Ice-cream dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30, 1924. 1,520,763

5. .D. MILLER ICE CREAM DISPENSER Filed Dec. 5, 1921 Patented Dec. 3%, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,520,763 Parent oFF-ICE.

BENJAMIN D. hIILLER, OF VVOGSTER, OHIO.

IGE-CREAIVI Application filed December To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN D. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at l Vooster, in the county of Wayne and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful lceCream Dispenser, of which the follow ing is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for dispensing ice cream from large receptacles to small ones, and its principal object is to provide a simple and efi'icient means for dipping ice cream from receptacles wherein it is stored, and dispensing the same in small and measured quantities to customers, and to make the dispensing thereof more sanitary and easier than heretofore.

It consists of the novel device and mechanism hereinafter fully set forth and stated in the appended claim.

My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which similar letters and figures of reference indicate like parts.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is an exterior side view of a device embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is avertical and longitudinal section of Fig. 1 on the dotted line 22; Fig. 8 is a detail view of an auxiliary means for swiping oil the cream from the dispensing cup, detached therefrom; and Fig. 4 is a lateral cross section of Fig. 1 on the dotted line 33.

In the drawings, A and B are hollow tubes having telescopic relation to each other, the member A being closely fitted to slide reciprocally within the tube B. C is a terminal cup integral with the lower end of the tube B, and open at its lower end C. E is a head or dispensing end of my device, comprising a flanged rim attached to the lower end of the tube A, and having a central opening into the tube for the upward escape of air therethru, and fitted to reciprocate within the terminal cup C for the purpose of expelling ice cream therefrom, as hereafter stated. F is a thumb latch, operable outwardly thru a slot G in the tube A by means of a spring f located within the tube, and adapted to engage a notch in the band 5 at the top of the tube B, when the tube A is drawn out to its limits. The latch has a two fold object-first, to hold the tube members A and B in extended relation while the cup end C is manually pushed endwise into the mass of ice cream within the ice cream receptacle wherein it is stored, and the flanged head E, as a piston head, is held DISPENSER.

5, 1921. Serial No. 526,148.

thereby from reciprocating within thecup; and, secondly, to impel the tube B to rotate with the rotation of the tube A, after'the cup member has been pushed into the mass of ice cream within the receptacle thereof, which rotary movement is essential to separating the cream within the cup from that within the receptacle, as hereafter stated.

The thumb-latch F fits snugly into the slots G and G, respectively, as an air tight stopper, and its lower edge extends outwardly and is fitted to engage any one of the several notches in the band 7) which surrounds the upper end of the tube 13, for convenience in handling the device.

Said band and tube are also fitted to lie closely upon the tubular member A, so as to practically prevent the passage of air between them, when operating in ice cream.

I am aware that air valves, for a similar purpose, have been heretofore provided, located in the top of the dispensing cup, and such I do not broadly claim. Such arrangement is defective on account of their nearness to the ice cream, which is liable to stop them up, and escape therethru. I overcome these defects by locating the valve H at the top of the tube A, and making a continuous air duct therein opening directly thru the plunger head E into the dispensing cup G.

D is a ring of metal, which is mounted to reciprocate loosely over the outer surface of the cup C, and is provided with a series of rods (Z (Z, secured thereto, and adapted to lie snugly against the said outer surface of said cup, and in line therewith. By the rotation of said metal rim D the rods swipe off the ice cream that may lodge thereon, and downward movement of the rim over said surface also aids in accomplishing a like object.

But this feature is only of occasional use, and is not absolutely essential to its use generally.

The air valve H, fitted to the top of the tube A. creates a suction therein when the dispensing cup C is being withdrawn from the mass of ice cream within the ice cream receptacle of storage. This valve acts automatically. and effectually closes the upper end of the tube A. whereby the ice-cream within the cup is held therein. However, this valve is unnecessary where the ice cream is suficiently frozen to prevent running, as in such case the friction within the cup, whose walls are parallel, is sufficient to retain the ice cream therein until forced out by the action of the piston head E.

Measurement of the ice cream is determined by the size of the dispensing cup C, which may be made of any size or shape desired to suit the trade, the normal standard being one quart. To adapt the device to lesser measures, I provide a secondary slot G in the body of the tube B, fitted to engage the thumb latch F at F (Fig. 1), thereby holding the piston head at the intermediate position within the cup at E while the cup is pushed into the mass of ice cream, the handle on the end of tube A be ing, in such case moved down in the direce tion of the arrow m to the intermediate position a Other predetermined measurements may be made in like manner.

The operation of my device is as follows The tubular members A and B being drawn apart to their limits, the thumb latch F engages one of' the notches 0, whereby said members are held in extended relation, and

I rotary movement of one upon the other is created by the air valve H. To discharge the ice cream from the dispensing cup C, the tubular member B is grasped by the other hand of the operator immediately op posite the thumb latch F, which, being pressed down, permits the member A to telescope within the tubular member B, thereby pushing out the ice cream from the cup by action of the piston head E to its limits at E at the bottom C of the dispensing cup.

This pressure may also be utilized to compress the dispensed cream within ordinary ice cream cartons, and, for the purpose, the dispensing cup may be either cylindrical or angular, the piston head being shaped to conform thereto, and the dispensed mass may be shaped either in brick form or otherwise, as may be desired.

I am also aware that a plunger rod, engaging a plunger head, has'heretofore been constructed to reciprocate thru a stem, and movement therein limited by means of a manually operable pin-stop passing thru said rod, and such I do not claim broadly. In such case the means for actuating the pin-stop are necessarily outside of the apparatus, exposed to view, and difiicult to handle, and too expensive for general use. In my device a latch is driven outwardly from within the tubular stem, and is adapted thereby to engage any one of a series of notches in the top of the outer tubular member, and also to act as a stopper of air, as

In a device of the character described, the

combination with a tubular body; a dispensing cup on one end of said body, opening outwardly; a rim-surrounding the other end of said body, having a series of notches therein; a tubular shaft longer than said body, and fitted to reciprocate closely Within said rim; a disk on the lower end of said tubular shaft, having a central opening and fitted to reciprocate within said dispensing cup; an air valve closing the top of said tubular shaft; a handle at the upper end of said shaft; a longitudinal slot in said shaft opposite said rim notches when drawn out to its limits, and a spring actuated bar mounted within said tubular shaft carrying a thumbfllatch, said'latch fitted to register closely with said longitudinal slot, and

adapted to engage any one of said notches,

automatically, substantially as set forth and BEN D. MILLER.

In presence of two witnesses:

HIRAM SWARTZ, WALTER J. MoNeEY.

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