US1640184A - Device for handling cups and the like - Google Patents

Description

g M. H. EATON DEVICE FOR HANDLING CUPS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 vlh ATT RN YE- M. H. EATON DEVICE FOR HANDLING CUPS AND THE LIKE Filed J y 19, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MWHEE;

EPITEI Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

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MALCOLM n. EATON, or Bn-ooKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, Ass xenon or ONE-THIRD TO EZRA 53. EA)

art-"n QNE-THIRD To onanr ns r. EATON, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICE FOR HANDLING CUZS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed July 19, 1924.

This invention has for its general object to provide an appliancefor conveniently and safely handling china cups and similar utensils of irregular shape and fragile character in restaurants and the like where such articles are used in considerable numbers. In large establishments of this kind, and particularly at lunch counters where the volume of trade is heavy and where quick service is required, the handling of china cups pre sents a troublesome problem, due to the irregular shape occasioned by their handles, which prevents their being stacked. or nested in the manner employed with other crockery, so that the space required for their accommodation and the labor involved in handling them in the various operations incidental to their use are out of proportion to the returns from such use, while the item of breakage is relatively high unless china ware of an objectionably heavy and coarse grade is employed. The present invention has, therefore, for its more particular object to provide a device in the nature of a container in which china cups'and the like in quantities may be transported, washed, and securely retained againstvbreakage at all times when not in actual use, from which they may be conveniently supplied as required for service, and to which they may be immediately returned after use, said device being of inexpensive construction and of such a character as to permit the ready presentation of the cups in either upright or inverted position and being also in the nature of a unit any number of which may be employed, as required, in compactly stacked relationship.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, together with means whereby the latter may be carried into effect, will best be understood from the following description of one form or embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one of the cont ainers.

Fig. 2 is a simplified or diagrammatic plan view of the top only of the container, the positions of the cups being indicated in dotted lines. V

Fig. 3 is a side elevation'of a plurality of similar containers disposed in superposed relationship, the cups therein being shown in dotted llilQ-Sr Serial No. 727,037.

Fig. l is a sectional view, taken substan' tially on the line 4-4, Figs. 1 and 2, of two containers one of which is inverted upon the other, the cups being shown in full.

The device embodyin the invention as soldered or welded together to form a unitary structure. Said frame, which is of symmetrical form in plan, comprises upright side walls which completely surround the container, a bottom which is supported above the lower edges of, the side walls so as to leave an unobstructed space beneath the same, and which is adapted to support the cups or other articles, and an open topwliich is divided into a plurality of compartments each of an outline corresponding generally to the outline of the cups, including-tlie'handles, and which compartments are adapted to hold the cups in spaced relationship so as to prevent contact and consequent breakage thereof. r

The side walls, which, as above stated, completely surround the device, comprise continuous circumferential members spaced and connectedat intervalsby upright m'em bers'lO, said circumferentialmembers including a bottom member 11 defining thelower edges of the walls, an intermediate member 12 which supports the bottom, an upper member 13 which carries the wire partitions forming the compartments, and preferably also a top member 14L which defines the upper edges of the walls, said members being preferably all ofthe same form and dimensions, so that a plurality of containers or frames may be readily superposed and supported one upon the other with the bottoinmember 11 ofone frame resting upon the top member 141. of the frame immediately below, as shown in Fig. 3.

The top of the frame, as above referred to, is divided into a plurality of compartments by partitions in the form of curved wires 15 which are supported adjacent the edges of the frame bythecircumferential wall member 13 andat intermediatepjoirits fror n -the bottom (hereinafter do b'dl by upright l memlfiers' 16,: suitable "mg mem bers 17 being, if desired, provided where necessary. Each of the compartments thus formed is of an outline substantially pearshaped corresponding generally to the outline of the cups 18 to be received therein, being generally of circular form and of a diameter slightly greater than the maximum diameter of the cups, and having lateral or radial enlargements to receive the handles 19 of said cups. The form of the several compartments, as well as their relative arrangement. is clearly shown in Fig. 2 from which it will be seen that said compartments are disposed in overlapping or interfitted relationship with respect to each other but in symmetrical relationship with respect to the container as a whole. as will be seen by reference to the axial lines AB and CD on said figure. Theoverlapping interfitting relationship of the compartments provides for a compact arrangement of the cups, permitting a maximum number to be received within a minimum space. while the symmetrical relationship permits two of the containers or frames to be inverted one upon the other in such a manner as to cause the compartments of the two frames to register with each other and to receive the cups one from the other for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The bottom comprises a reticulated structure ofintersecting wires 20 supported by the circumferential wall member 12 and preferably provided under the several compartments with slightly raised members 21 adapted to enter the slightly concaved bottoms of the cups when the latter are in up right position to centre the same and assist in the spacing thereof. The position of the bottom with respect to the top is such as to support the cups with approximately onehalf of each cup received within its respective compartment and with the other half projecting therefrom, so as to permit their ready removal from the compartments. 7

Prior to their use in service, the cups are stored in the several compartments,- being preferably placed in inverted position therein, as indicated in Fig. 3, in order to preserve their cleanliness. As many frames or containers as desired may besupported in superposed positionone upon the other, as shown in said figure, the projecting portions of the cups of a lower frame being received within the unobstructed space beneath the bottom of the frame immediately above, and

the cups of the topmost frame being in position for removal as required in service. As each frame is emptied, it may be removed from the top of the stack, thus exposing the cups in the frame immediately below, and may be placed at one side to receive the cups after use. As the used cups contain more or less residual material, they are placed in upright posit-ion in'the frames, and as each frame is filled another may be superposed upon it to receive additional cups, the upper portions of the cups of the lower frame be ing received in the lower portion of a superposed frame, as above explained. The frames of used cups may be carried singly or in stacks to the dishwasher. and -as so carried the individual cups are held in spaced relationship against breakage. The frames with their upright cups may then be immersed in the washing tank, and as each frame of cups is removed another frame may be placed in inverted position thereover, shown in Fig. 4c, the upper portions of the cups in the lower frame being received in the several compartments of the upper frame, and the two frames thereupon inverted together, whereupon the cups will be received in inverted position in the second frame so as to drain therein. The several frames with the inverted cups therein may then be returned to the place of use and stacked in superposed position, as shown in Fig. 3 and as above described.

It will thus be seen that, except when actually in use, the cups may at all times be kept in the frames or containers which, besides constituting convenient receptacles therefor from which they may be readily taken as needed and to which they may be readily returned, serve eflectively to protect the same against breakage while being carried from place to place and during the washing, the latter operation being effected without removing the cups and withoutplacing themin a special receptacle for the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A wire container for handling fragile articles of irregular form comprising a frame having upright walls, an open top of symmetrical form, and a bottom disposed above the lower edges of said walls to leave an unobstructed space beneath said bottom and adapted to support said articles with approximately one-half of such articles projecting above said top, the upper and lower edges of said walls being relatively formed to adapt said container to rest upon the walls of a similar container, and said open top being divided into a plurality of compartments each of an outline corresponding generally to the outline of said articles, said compartments being disposed in intermeshing relationship with respect to each other and in symmetrical. relationship with re spect to said container as a whole, said bottom having raised portions beneath the several compartments for centering the articles therein, the configuration of the several compartments in. each container being like those of all other containers, whereby the same may be stacked in perfect alignment when filled with articles regardless of whether the containers be bottom side up.

2. The herein described device for handling fragile articles of irregular form comprising a frame or container having upright walls, an open top of symmetrical form, and a bottom disposed above the lower edges of said walls to leave an unobstructed space beneath. the same and adapted to support said articles with portions thereof projecting above said top, the upper and lower edges of said walls being relatively formed to adapt said container to rest upon the Walls of a similar container, and said open top having substantially its entire area divided into a plurality of compartments each substantially pear-shaped in outline and corresponding generally to the outline of said articles, said compartments being disposed in intermeshing relationship with respect to each other and in symmetrical relationship with respect to said container as a whole.

3. The herein described device for hanpositioncd top or dling fragile articles of irregular form comprising a frame or container having uplower edges of said walls to leave an unobstructed space beneath the same and adapted to support said articles with portions thereof projecting above said top, the upper and lower edges of said walls being relatively formed to adapt said container to rest upon the walls of a similar container, and said open top being divided into a plurality of compartments each of an outline corresponding generally to the outline of said articles, said compartments being disposed in interfitted relationship with respect to each other and in symmetrical relationship with respect to said container as a Whole, said bottom having raised portions beneath the several compartments for centering the articles therein.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MALCOLM H. EATON.

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