US1928667A - Spring balanced container lid - Google Patents

Description

U h 3 1933. R. F. KUNS SPRING BALANCED CONTAINER LID Filed March 21, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. YfiKU/VS A TTORNEY.

6%. 3 1933. R F s SPRING BALANCED CONTAINER LID Filed March. 21, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet I?! as Patented Oct. ,3, 1933 The invention relates to containers having lids which, are hingedly connected with thebo'dy and adapted to be manually opened.

iljHeretofore considerable manual"force; as w'ell g asinconve'm'ence and energy, 'hasbeen required to iopen" containers whose vlids are .pivotally or .hingeclly connected "with the body particularly iigthe lid is relatively heavy, 1 The bodiesutilized ontrailersi chassis, and which are intended to all) contain campers equipment, andthe like; usually are constructedwitha lid which, when opened,

forms one- -half ofxthefloor and walls oi a house or place'of habitation which may be utilized for sleeping and cookingf Particularly, because con- ;ltl tainerslof this nature are: relatively large "and heavy, considerable manual force necessarily is required to open orraise theirlidsi Therefore, the general object ofthe invention is to provide simple, efiicient and dependable means adapted automatically to; equalize, or

compensate," and reduce themanual eii ort or force ordinarily required to open and close the lidofacontainer."

{ Other objects of the invention are to provide 5 simple, "eificient andvpractical means whereby a resilientmember, such as a coil spring, is utilized to impart force or powerfor the purpose, of asisisting a person to lift said lid when opening and closing said container and to provide means n jwhereby'the'tension of said coilspring' is adapted to impart forceto retain saidli'd in a stationary ;positionintermediate -the open and closed posi- -tion. j The invention consists 'inproviding resilient means having such connectionswith the lid ofa COntainenthat said resilient means is adapted to 'exert forcetoraisesaid lidy and tov exertl iorce a to sustain-said lid while the same is being lowered.

, The invention, also, consists in the combinatiori, -=arrangementxand= details otthe .partsiand :4 is a sideelevational-viewof the invention shown: in: fully opened :position. and with. dotted "lines? sshowingv-; thelid' in: .partly a closed position;

" wand 1,928,667 r s I i senmoinanancnn CONTAINERLIDH T Ray innuna-ivi ai qn u, Ohio Application Mimi! 2 1, 1932 Serial No. 600,160, "1g o a'im' sgf (Cl/220 47) The width ofthe-body-rz, orf'the distancebe rearend zz securedjto the rear e'nd'23 of the of the sides and adjacent :the'bottom '8 and a the ,end 4, of thebody 2, arethe pulleys -25 which are mounted upon'the shaftsj26 having-their Suitably around or threaded through the pulleys 25.

I Fig. 5 is a planviewbf theinventionshown' in wideopen position. I 1 s In the preferred constructionof the invention s I provide the container 1 comprising the bottom orbody2 and the'top or lid 3. jlhebody coin prises theintegrally formed ends land '5, sides 6 and Z'Qand bottoin fi andhasthe'open top 2'. I The lid comprises the integrally -formed 'ends 9 and 10,;sides -11 and 12, and-top 13;andhasthe open bottom 3.

tween theoutersurfacesof'theysides 6 and 7,-is I considerablyless than the widthof the top 3,:or the distance-between the inner-surfaces of the sides ll and 12 and the sides 6 and '7; respectively,

are ofisetinwardly from the sides 11" and' 12ior purposes hereinafterjfullyexplained.

The end f the'body 2ishingedly connected with the end 10; of the top 3, as by the usual hinge 7 l i positioned intermediate the. upper edge being positioned a slight distance closer to the edgel5 thanthe distance from the bottom 8.

Positioned adjacent each side 6 and '7, and the outer edges of the bottom 8,- of the body 2; are the tubes 16 andl'l secured in fixed relationwith respect to thebody 2" as-by thespaced apart bandsllsreceived around the tubes. The bands 18 are fixed to the respective sid'es pf the body "2 as by the rivets 19 which; are combinedly received throughthe bands andthe-"respective sides.

' Received within the'tubes 16 and 1?, respectively, are; the coil springs 20 and 21 -having their tubes, afsby' the" bolts 24 which protrude out-i wardly through the rearfend of the tubes H I flRotatablym'ountedon the outer surfaces of the sides '6' and '7, and adjacent the lower edges.

innerends received in thev sides 6 and'l and the pulley plates or supports 27 which are attached to theouter surfaces of theside's; The bolts or rivets 28'fixthe plat es'z'l to the sides of the 9 body 2. 1 I i I fixedto the 'front end 29 of the coil springszoand 21 are the cables :29 received 1; Rotat'ably mounted on the outer surfaces of eachside 6 and '7, and. adjacent 'the upperedge 15 'ancl above the end 4, of thebody 2, are the horizontally aligned pulley's 30 and "31 whose A outer edges may contact, orbe slightly spaced apart LH he cables 29 are receivedbetWe'enQor threaded through the respective pulleys 30 and 31 which are rotatably mounted upon the shafts 32 and 33 whose inner ends are fixedly mounted in the sides 6 and 7 and in the pulley support plate 34 secured to the sides as by the bolts or rivets 34'. The upper ends 35 of the cables 29' are secured to the studs 36 suitably secured in the sides 11 and 12 of the lid 3. The studs 36 project outwardly of the lid and are advantageously disposed about centrally of the respective sides.

As previously explained, the width of the body the lid from falling to closed position or falling to the'open position. Irrespective of the direc- 2 is considerably less than the width of the lid 3.

springs 20 and 21. The force exerted by the springs tends to prevent the force of gravity from drawing the lid in its downward position, shown in Figs. v1 and 2, whereby a relative small manual force exerted upwardly, against the edge 37 of the lid, is sufficient to prevent the lid from falling rapidly to closed position.

An advantage of the invention is that the coil springs 20 and 21 exert force to, assist the operalifting the lid 3 from either a closed or open tor in position to a balanced position in which position Therefore, when the lid is in closed position, as?

shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cables29', pulleys 30 and 31 and pulley 25 are received intermediate the respective sides of thebody and the lid.

The mechanical operation of the invention is as follows: .u Assume the lid 3,, of the container 1, is closed, telescoping, over the body 2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The operator may projecthis fingers in contact with ,the lower edge 3'7 of the lid 3 which, when the container is closed, is spaced upwardly from the bottom 8, of the body, a sufficient distance to prevent contact of the lower edge 3'? of the lid with the tubes lfi and 17. Manual force exerted upwardly, with respect to the lid 3, causes the lid to pivot on the hinge 14. Simultaneously,'tension of the cables 29 is exerted by the coil springs 20 and 21 since, when the lid, 3 is in closed position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the coil springs 20 and 21 are elongated, or in tension. The force exerted by the springs equalizes, compensatesor reduces the amountof normal manual force required to open the lid to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. When the lid is forced further upwardly, near or at a balanced position, the cables 29' are drawn inwardly by the coil springs 20 and 21 which are in neutralized position. Further manual force exerted in the same direction, indicated by the arrow 38, against the lid 3 causes the studs 36 to be removed a farther distance from the pulleys 30' and 31,'thereby exerting tension on the cables 29 which extend the coils springs 20 and 21. The force requiredto extend the springs equalizes or reduces the normal manual upward force required to lift or lower the lid slowly to the open position shown in Figs. 3, and 4. While the lid 3 remains in fully opened position, asshownin Fig. 4, the cables 29 exert force caused by tension of the coil springs 20 and 21, and the springs remain in elongated or extended position while the lid is in fully opened position. However, the normal force exerted by the coil springs 20 and 21 with respect to the cables 29 is not sufilcient only slight manual force is required to prevent tion inwhich the lid 3 is moved from the balanced' position the force exerted by the coil springs 20' and 21 co-operates with the operator in assisting and relieving him from exerting the normal force required to prevent the lid from to overcome the force of gravity which retains the lid 3 in open position.

When itis desired to close the container 1, as by lifting'the end 9 of the lid 3 upwardly, the operator is required only to exert [slight manual forcesince the tension in the coil springs 20 and '21 is transmitted to the cables 29' which in turn exert upward pressure in contact with the studs 36 because the pulleys3Q, on-which the cables are resting, are positioned above the studs 36 and the pulleys 25 are positioned beneath the pulleys 32 and 33. When the lid 31s elevated to near or at a balanced position the coil springs 20 and 21 are in normal or neutralized position. Further movement of the lid 3, to the positionshownby "dotted lines in Fig. 4, causes the cables 29 to move fromthe pulley 30 and rest upon the pulley 31 thereby causing the cables 29' to elongate the "the claims.

the general form and arrangement of mechanical rapidly falling, by force of gravitation, to the open or closed position.

Another advantage of the invention is that the double or twin pulleysare positioned in close relation with each other, whereby the cables 29' are adapted to swing automatically from contact with the pulley 31 into contact with the pulley 30, when the lid is being opened, and when the lid is being closed the cables 29 are adapted to automatically swing from contact with the pulley 30 into contact with the pulley 31'.

The importance of equalizing the manual force required to lift the lid from the closed position shown in Figs. 1' and 2 to the balanced position,

and the upward pressure'required to slowly lower the lid from the balanced position to the open position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is readily appreciated when it is considered that numerous kinds of containers, particularly those such as ficiently large to provide ample, space for sleeping space and cooking as well as storage for heavy equipment utilized by campers.

Still another advantage of the invention is that telescoping bodies utilized on trailers, are sufthe normal force exerted by the coil springs 20 I and 21 is obtained without expenditure, except cost of installation of the parts as previously explained. v f

It is apparent that I have invented a practical device. adapted, to considerably relieve an operator from exertion of manual force in opening and closing lids of various kinds of containers. It is, also, readily apparent that the size and .strength of the cables 29 and springs 20 and 21 device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that changes in the details may be resorted to, when required,-without sacrificing any of the advantages 'of the invention as defined in Various changes may be made in parts describedwithout departing from the in- ,vention. vI Ience I do not limit myself to themecise details of thematerials or the size and shape thereof as set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly a a aU fall within the i spirit and scope r the appended and'final claims.

Q What 'I claim "as new anddesire to-secure by "Letters" Patent is:

I. Acontainer comprising a bodyfa lidfahin'ge j connecting said bodywith said lid; means fixed to the" upperedge and adjacent said' end of said jbodyya-spring intensio-n fixed to the lower edge 01 said body and in parallebrelation therewith,

"threaded through said first "mentioned means, 'f' saidhinge being below an extendedportionfof a i u r 'tion of s'aid cablewith said lid being a, so positionedthatSaid' -resiIierit means is adapted to exertiorcetending toraise said lid from a closed position,; and said -resilientmeans is adapted to "exertforcetending'to raise said lid froman saidlid having an inwardly, extending, means centrally disposed'of a side, and below said first 'mentioned means, a cable connected with an end or said spring adjacent said end or: said body andthe other end of said cable being connected with said last mentioned means, said cable being line through said firstmentionedmeans and said second mentioned meansand said secondmen- 120 "tioned meansbeingbelow a line extended through said first mentioned meansand said hingewherebysaid spring exerts force tending toopensaidlid whensaid.containerlisclosed.

2. A container comprising a body, a lid, a hinge connecting one end of said body with saidflid, means fixed to said body, a spring in tension fixed to the lower edgeoi said bodygsaid lid having means, a cableconnected with an end of said spring adjacent said end' of saidjbody' and the other endof said cable being connected with said last mentioned means, said cable being threaded through said first mentioned means, said hinge being below a portion of a line extended through said first mentioned means and said second mentioned means and said second mentioned means Y being belowa portion of a line extended through with said spring and said last mentioned means,

1 said last mentioned means, said cable being mov- 55 said container is closed.

saidcable being threaded through said first men tioned means, said first mentioned means being above a line extended through said hinge and said second mentioned means and said first mentioned means being positionedbetween'said hinge and said second mentioned means whereby said spring exerts force tending to open said lid when 4. A container comprising a body, a lid, a hinge connecting said body with saidlid, means fixed to said body, a spring in tensionfixed to said body, said lid having an inwardly extending means, a cable connected with said spring and able on saidfirst mentioned means, said second mentioned means being below a line extended through said hinge and said first mentioned means and said first mentioned means being positioned between said hinge and said second mentioned means whereby said spring exerts force tending to open said lid'when said container is closed, and said spring exerts force tending to close said lid when said lid is in open-position.

5. A container comprising a body, a lid hingedly connected with said body, meansfixedto said body, a spring intension fixed to said body, said lid having means, acable connected withsaid spring and said last mentioned means, said cable being threaded through said first mentioned said "bodyand said first mentioned means being positionedbetween said second mentioned-means and said hinged connection whereby said" spring exerts force te'ndingto open'said lid-when said container'is closed, and said spring exerts force tending to close 'saidlid when-said lid is in open ,position.- I 'I 6. The combination with a container having a body and a lid hingedly connected therewith, of

resilient means connected with saidbody, a cable 4 connected with-said {resilient means and to said lid,- andmeans comprising a pulley on said body through which said-"cable is threaded and said pulley, cable, "resilient means "and said connecopened position.

saidmeans and to saidlidfand means comprising a pulley on saidbodyjthrough" which 'said cableis threaded and said pulley,cab1e, said first mentioned-means and -said connectionof said 'cable with said'lidbeing so positioned whereby said'firstmentioned'ineans is adapted to exert force tending to raise said lid from a closed position, and said first mentioned means is adapted to exert force tending to raise said lid from an opened position. I

' 8. In a container, a body, a lid having anend,

hingedly connected with an end of said body, said hinge being positioned intermediate the top and bottom of said body, a horizontal coil spring fixed to the lower edge of a side of said body and extending parallel with said edge, a pulley of said body, a pair of horizontally aligned pulleys fixed to said body adjacent its upper edge fixed tosaidlower edge and adjacent said end 7 and adjacent said end of said body, said lid having a side off set from saidside of said body,

said: lid side having'a lug" therein substantially centrally disposed of said side a cable having an end fixed to an end of said spring and threadspring exerts force,=through said cable, tending to close said lid from its fully open position and tending to open said lid from itsclosed position.

necting said, body with said lid, a horizontal coil spring fixed to they lower edge of a side of said body andextending parallel with said edge, a

pulley fixed to said lower edge and adjacent said ed through said first mentioned pulley and be- "9. In a-container, a body,-a lid,ga hinge con-f end ofsaid body, means fixed to said body adjacent its upper edge and adjacent said end of said body, said lid having a side'ofi set from said side of said body, said lid side having a lug therein substantially centrally disposed of said side;

a cable having an end fixed to said spring and threaded through said pulley and said means and having its other end fixed to said lug; said spring being in tension when said lid is in fully open and in closed position, said lug being below a line extended through said hinge and said nieanswhen said lidiis closed whereby said spring cent its upper edge and adjacent said end of said body, said lid having a side 01f setfrom said side of said body, said'lidside having a lug therein, a cable having an end fixed to said spring and threaded through said first mentioned pulley and between said pair of pulleys and havingits other end fixed tosaid lug, said spring being in tension when said lid is in open and in closed position, and said lug being below a line extended between said pair of pulleys and'through the hinge connected ofsaid lid with saidbody, and said first mentionedmeans being positioned between said second mentioned means and said hinged-connection whereby said spring exerts force, through said cable, tending to else said lid from its open position and tending to open said lid from its closed position. I

11. A container comprising a body, a lid, a hinge connecting said body with said lid, means fixed to the upper edge and adjacent said end of said body, a housed spring in tension fixed to the lower edge of said bodyand in parallel rela- -tion therewith, means attached to lower edge of said body, said lid having an inwardly projecting means centrally disposed of a side and below said first mentioned means, a cable having one end connected with said housed spring adjacent;

,said end of said body and the other end of said' cable being connected with said third mentioned means, said cable being threaded through said first mentioned means and through said second mentioned means, said hinge being below an ex- 5 tended portion of a line through said first mentioned means and said third mentioned means, whereby said spring exerts force tending to open said lid when said container is closed.

12. A container comprising a body, a lid, a:-

hinge connecting said body with said lid, means fixed to the upper edge and adjacent said end of said body,,a spring in tension fixed to the lower edge of said body, means attached to lower edge of said body, said lidhaving an inwardi second mentioned means, said hinge being below an extended portion of a line through said first mentioned means and said third mentioned means, whereby said spring exerts force tending to open said lid when said container is closed.

RAY F. KUNS.

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