US1986262A - Cafeteria table appliance - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 1, 1935. H. c. GESSLER 1,986,262

CAFETERIA TABLE APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 6, 1933 ATTORN EY V This invention relates to table appliances for Patented Jan. 1, 1935 l "UNITE D iS-TATE cAFE'rEnrA TABLE'APPLIANCll Harry G. Gessler, Brooklyn, N. Y. 1

' Application L Ianuary 6,

v 10 Claims.

cafeterias. f V

. One object of the invention is to provide an appliance of the character described .whereinsa plurality of devices suchas a tray and a napkin dispenser-are coordinated in improved association with each other. V A

4 In cafeterias, especially, where a considerable number of-patrons may beseated at one table.

the table space is relatively limited and crowded, and henceto economize in available room, it has been customary to providea centrally located tray elevated above the table. Such tray isused for containers fon -sugar, mustard, spicesg' 'and the like, which are accessibly located, easilyseen, do not occupy any table space, and moreover, do not interfere with the cleaning'of the table. In-other'words, when thedishes' are removed by the attendants from the'table, the latter is uni formly free and-vacant; *A napkin dispenser, however, is generally-positioned'on the table, and this is the only-device thereon which is constantly located on the table" and which militates against the uniformly free unencumbered condition of thecleared table," besides occupying space and beingin the way whenthe-table isin use by-the patrons. flhis' drawback; which -I have perceived, 'I have remedied by-the invention herein described. 7 v

Another objectof the -invention is to furnish an appliance of the nature "set forth,wherein the tray which is normally mounted on'a suitable pedestal has improved association with said pedestal and the napkin dispenser: so as to be interchangeably mounted on -either, accordin'gto the requirements of the particular cafeteria More specifically, some cafeterias havea'sin'gle source of supply of the'mapkins', to which the patrons must go forth'eir napkins, and in such cases the cafeteria may prefer to have the trays 'mounted on the pedestals. Hence it will be of considerable advantage 'to" the manufacturer to provide an appliance wherein the trayisinterchangeably connected with the napkin dispenser and the pedestal. Moreoi/er, the cafeteria may purchase such :appliar'iees and consequently use thetray and pedestal combination or the-tray and napkin dispenser combination asmay be preferred'or as exigencies may require, i

A further objectf the invention-is to provide an appliance of thetype mentioned halving few and simple parts, and which is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, and durable, convenient, reliable, and efficient in use, and neat in appearance. i r I 1933, Serial N6. 1656,410

( oi. c s-) Otherobjects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent "as the specification pro- With the aforesaid objects inview, theinven tion consists inrthe'novelfcombinations and ar-- rangements of parts :hereinafterdescribed in their preferred embodiments, pointed 'out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated on the annexed drawing, .wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters'throughout the several views.

In the drawing:... v A Figure 1 is a" view in front elevation withparts in section: showing an appliance embodying the invention. 1 r1: Fig. 2 is a view: in front elevation of: an appliance embodyingpthe invention according to a different combinationthereof.

Fig; 3 is a view inside elevation" of 'a'napkin dispenser; according to the: invention. i 1.2 1 Fig.4 is a top planview on'a reduced scale of thedevice shown-inFigil; The advantages oftheinvention as here out: lined are best realized .when all of its features and instrumentalities areacombined in'one and-the same structure, but, .use'fuldevices may be produced embodying less .than the whole; 1

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to whichaithis' invention appertains, that the. same may be: incorporated in severaldifferent constructions- The accompanying drawing-therefore, is "submitted merely: as showing the pre-.

ferred exemplification of the'inve'ntion. c 1 Referring in detail to the drawing, t denotes an appliance rcembodying .the invention, The

same includes a conventional napkin dispenser 11 andiany suitable tray 12 mounted thereon so as to extend'over-thesaid dispenser.

9 Y The invention 'may also include' an, appliance having the napkin dispenser 11, tray12, and any support or pedestal: 13 so associated that the tray 12 may be'interchangeably mounted on the dis+ penser and pedestal to: produce a 7 device 10a which illustrates a second phase of the appliance, of which thedevice 10 maybe considered the first-phase. I

i 14 denotes a conventional cafeteria tableupon which theapplia'ncell) or 10a maybe mounted or attached in central relation, so that there is a maximum substantially uniform space between theperiphery 15 of the saicl table and the dis penser '11 or pedestal 13 as the case maybe.

For the purpose-of illustrating one form of the invention, it will be sufiicient to, indicate that the napkin-dispenserll includes a'casing ldhaving side walls 17, a front wall 18, a rear wall 19, and a top wall 20. Said casing may be weighted at its base by a plate 21.- Within the casing, a feeder such as a plate 22 may be provided, actuated toward the front wall by an actuator such as an expansion coil spring 23. The front wall 18 may have an opening-24 smaller in size than the plate 22 so as to assureretention of the latter. Formed in the sides 1'7 of the casing are openings 25' located near the front wallfl Secured substantially centrally on the top of #the Leasing is a holding means of any well known type, such as a pin or stud 26 which may be suitably covered, when not in use, as by a cap 27 t reald edly,con.-.v ,7

nected thereto. Y

It will sufiice briefly to point outthatnapkins such as paper napkins are thru'stinto the casing through opening 24 so that the edge portions of the napkins are engaged behind the frontwall 18,!

is of a conventional type J except for the holding means 26 and openings 25,and any other kind of napkin dispenser, of diifere'nticonstruction and mode of operation maybe substitutedtherefor';

The tray 12 may beflof any well known shape and construction, and includes, generally, a bOt-r' tom'plate 29 and a marginal flange 30. .Substan tially centrally connected to ilthe bottom plate 29 in downward acting relatiom-and in station-.v ary or rotary association with said bottom plate, is a holding means of a conventional type adapted forengagementwith thei upper partlof the dispenser l1. Said holding meansimay include a socket element 31 that..may have a pin 32 on which the tray is journaled'i"I'he-2socketi:element is adapted for threaded engagement with the stud26sothatthe traywill be mounted on the napkin dispenser in central relation thereto' as shown. I :1 .2,

The pedestal l3maybejof any. well known type, and may include a 'weightedbase 333orj other holding means. At its'upper end, the pedestal may have a holding meansof any suitable type, as, for illustration, a threaded projectionor stud 26a similarto. 26so as to: be 'engageable in the socket element. 31, Wherebylthetray ,can' bei carried by the pedestal";

It willlthusbe seen that theinvention p ro-1 vides an appliance includingta napkin dispenser, a trayand a pedestal, which are interchangeably associated ina reliable manner toprovide practical devices 10 and 10a. Hence the manufacturer and cafeteria need carry feweraparts, and may provide either device 10. orf 100. as may be necessary; 1p q In the devicei10, the napkindispenser as a whole may act as a weighting means forholding the tray inastable manner, andneed'not occupy any more table space than that required by the base of the; pedestal; The tray may be used in the usual convenient manner. .Thesup: ply of napkins can be observed through opening 25, so that the dispenser :need not be rem'oved from the table orotherwise manipulated for fill i the Same- .nl,

.If the napkin dispenser is to be separatelyjused,

the tray is detached, and the cap 27 secured to aiford a uniform neat appearance for the device,

whereby a still different form of the invention is obtained.

I claim: v

1. A device including a vertically elongated portable casing having atop wall and a side wall, the latter having an opening for removably receiving napkins, said top wall having an upwardly projecting element, and a horizontal tray having a central downwardly extending element, said elements constituting removably interengagjingmale and female members.

[2. Acafeteria appliance including a napkin dispenser-"casing having top and bottom walls and aside wall provided with an opening of substantial size for, removably receiving napkins,

and'a horizontal tray, said casing having an upwardly extending screw element at said top wall, and said tray having a downwardly extending femaleportion internallythreaded for, removable connection with the'screw element.

--13;. A device including a vertically elongated portable napkin dispenser :casing having.,a:top, andbottom wall and a side wall provided with a gaged with said top wall, and said tray having-z a downwardly extending ,element secured there:-

to, said, elements constituting removably inter:

I ,4. A cafeteria table a pliance aausmgiami-,

kin d p r sin t ame., h vi s. e topv walland a side wall, the latterhaving an opening i rremov rece v n p ihs a idea em nt of maleand female releasably interengaging ele-, ments for mounting'a horizontal tray over said c in a le e s, iil l l d 1 .fi 6345-. ingin enga ement with said topwall.

5 A device including a ,veracai1y,eijtngatg i P rta le ca i 'hev ne a 1i??? Wall n a s d wall, the-,latter having v an opening for" receiving 1 1 3 5 1. salmon W vi 4 w r o-1 jecting screw element, and a horizontal tray having aeentraldownwardly extending sleeve in} te nal thre d aiorremovab connection h the screw element. H I e v caf e atabl a plianc including n bkin dispenser casing havingtop and bottom walls anda sidewall provided'withan opening for removably receiving napkins ,in the casing, and a horizontal tray, said casing and tray having male and female releasably interengaging elements disposed so as to mount thetray over the cas n -1 1 I l 7. A, cafeteria table appliance including a napkin ,dispensercasing having -top, bottom walls and side walls interconnected to brace each other,

one ofthe side walls'having an opening for removably receiving napkins in the casing, a horizontal tray overlying thecasing, and releasably; interengaging male andfemale elements,

one of said'elementsbeing connected to the tray, and the other elementbeingconnected to the casing so as to be laterally reenforcingly held by thelatter, i 8. A cafeteria table applianceincluding a-nap: kin; dispenser casing of boxgconstruction of the type that is light in- Weight,;said casing having thin, walls interconnected for mutuallybracing each other,rone ofthe. Walls having a side opening. 'for ,removal of ,napkinsin the casing, and a horizontal tray having a radiallycontinuous bottom wall overlying the casing and the casing and tray having interengaging connecting means so that the tray is reliably supported by the box construction of the casing.

9. A portable cafeteria table appliance including a napkin dispenser casing of box construction of the type that is'held in position by a base weight, said casing having thin walls interconnected with each other, one of the walls having a side opening for removably receiving napkins in the casing, and a horizontal tray having a disc shaped bottom wall overlying the casing and the latter and the tray having interengaging connecting means positioned remotely from the edges of the tray so that the tray is maintained as a movable unit with the casing.

10. A portable cafeteria table appliance includweight at the base thereof, said casing having thin walls interconnected with each other, one

of the walls having a side opening for removably receiving napkins in the casing and a horizontal tray having a disc shaped bottom wall overlying the casing and the latter and the tray having detachably engaged connecting means located remotely from the edge of the tray so that the same is normally maintained as a movable unit with the casing, and the latter being complete and adapted to function as a napkin dispenser in the detached condition thereof with respect to the tray.

HARRY C. GESSLER.

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