US1642329A

US1642329A - Safety tray rail

Info

Publication number: US1642329A
Application number: US140933A
Authority: US
Inventors: Brown Frederick Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1926-10-11
Filing date: 1926-10-11
Publication date: 1927-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 1944-09-13

Description

Spt. 13, 1927.

F. L. BROWN SAFETY TRAY RAIL Filed 001:. 11, 1926 if; INVEN'TOR /z?- 4 ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

FREDERICK LEWIS BROWN, OF WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA SAFETY TRAY RAIL.

Application filedOetober 11, 1926. Serial No. 140,933.

My present invention has reference to improvements in tracks on which trays are slid around the serving counters in cafeterias, my general object being the construction of a track for this purpose which will effec-' tively sustain the tray thereon, holding the said tray from lateral or side movement and causing the tray, in its movement, to be gradually elevated to the corners of the track, at which points the rails constituting the tracks are at the same level so that the tray may be conveniently turned and caused to travel at a slight downward inclination on the angle portion of the track and to be again engaged by the rails of the track in a manner to effectively hold the tray thereon and to prevent the spilling or upsetting of the contents of the tray.

To the attainment of the above broadly stated objects and others which will present themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood, the improvement also consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and operative association of parts, a satisfactory embodiment of which is disclosed by the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvement.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1.

The track is secured on suitable supports that are bolted or otherwise connected to a counter in a cafeteria. In general appearance the track is somewhat similar to that of the ordinary construction, the said track being made up of side rails 1 and intermediate rails 2. These rails are suitably supported on transverse and lateral angle brace members 3 and 4:. The intermediate rails 2 are substantially rectangular in cross section, while the side rails 1 are stepped, the inner horizontal shoulders 5 provided by said steps being in a plane with the top of the rails 2 and forming a support for the tray 6, indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings. At each end the track is formed from its corners with inwardly extending portions 7 and the space 8, between these inturned portions 7, permits free arrangement of the tray on the rails. The tray resting on the rails 2 and on the shoulders or tread surfaces 5 of the rails 1 will be effectively held from canting or side movement, but the said tray may be easily slid along'the track. The rails constituting the track are gradually inclined upwardl from their outer ends to the corners of sai track, the tread surfaces 5 of the rails 1 being, of course, likewise inclined upwardly, so that all of the rails and the corners of the track are elevated but in the same plane. This permits of the-tray being freely turned from one to the second side or branch of the track, and the tray moving on the said second branch will, of course, follow the slightly downwardly inclined rails of the said branch of the track and have its sides contacted by the shoul-' ders 8 of the rails 1, in a manner as previously described, so that lateral movement, or as a matter-of-fact, free longitudinal movement of the tray will be effectively prevented.

From ersonal observation I have found that by t e employment of the usual tray tracks in cafeterias, the trays not being held from lateral movement on said tracks, have been frequently, but, of course, accidentally moved off of such tracks with the result that the contents of the tray are destroyed and the dishes holding the foods are broken. With my improvement the liability of the tray being accidentally moved off the track is entirely overcome, while also with my improvement the tray being elevated at the corners of the track may be freely turned from one to the other branch of the track.

Having described the invention, I claim 1. A track for food trays in cafeterias, comprising intermediate and outer rails, said outer rails from the ends thereof, being channeled to provide tread surfaces and side shoulders, the tread surfaces being in a plane with that of the intermediate rails, and the tread surface of the side rails and the intermediate rails being gradually inclined upwardly from the ends to the corners of the traclg, for the purpose set forth.

2. A track for food trays in cafeterias,

comprising intermediate and outer rails, said outer rails from the ends thereof, being channeled to provide tread surfaces and side shoulders, the tread surfaces being in a plane With that of the intermediate rails, and the tread surface ofthe side rails and the intermediate rails being gradually inclined up- Wardly from the ends to the corners of the track, and the outer ends of the track having inwardly directed flanges at the corners thereof of a height equaling that of the shoulders of the side rails of the track.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FREDERICK LEl/VIS BROWN.