US1986395A - Towel cabinet - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 1, 1935. E. 1'. H-AILS 1,936,395

' TOWEL CABINET Original Filed May 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Snow/Fez:

EduardZHazLg- 1% Ma gn Jan. I, 1935. 1', 5 1,986,395

' TOWEL CABINET Original Filed May 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 WLWW y? y r [M A o a1? 11 i X am I a 2 V75; 1 +4 I! 1 '1 7f I Edward THdllp,

/ fl/ (87), F134 ant/014401362 Patented Jan. 1, 1935 Application 'May "18, 1929, Serial No. 364,209

Renewed May 8, 1934 '3"Claims. (Cl. 312-37) The present invention relates to'towel cabinets from which individual towels are dispensed and embodies, -more specifically, 'an improved form of towel-cabinet in which the-opera-ting mechanism is simple in--construction and effectively functions to return a used towel automatically into--the 'towe'l cabinet. Such return is slow initially; and is accelerated after afiesired period of time within which the average user will complete the wiping operation.

this manner, ample time is afforded the user 'to completefthe wiping "operation and the towel will not be pulled away from 'hi-mduring actual use thereof. The means 'for providing access to "the *towels, --after\ being actuated, *affords a "positive return for the soiledtowe'l and insures*-the quick and effective "disappearance of soiled towels. r An object of the presentinvention, accordingly, is to-provide' atowelcabinet whichis manually operated to provide a poteritial towel returning force which functions after thetowel "hasbeen'used. -A further object of the, invention is'to provide a 'towel cabinet .in which the towel .returning force is retarded 'slifiiciently to afford ade- -'quate time for "using the towel' before thereturning'force-becomeseffective. I .A further object of the "invention is'gto pro- Vide a towel'cabinet of theabove character-in which the towel returning force isretardedoluring'an'initial period, and accelerated during a final period for returning the towel quickly to the cabinet for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved towel supporting means, and means for freeing the edge of a towel from its pack to facilitate the exposing thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved towel supporting means within a towel cabinet of the above character.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent as it is described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a view in front elevation showing a towel cabinet constructed in accordance with the present invention. 50 Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the operating means actuated to expose the towel and enable it to be pulled out ready for use.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the front of the cabinet swung through 180 inet by a suitable securing means a 'i-ng hooks a are provided in the cabinet from to expose the operating mechanism-and contents of the cabinet. t

Figure 4 is a view in sectiontaken online 4-4 of Figure l, and looking in the direction of' the arrows.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4,. showing the operating knob elevated in the position shown in Figure 2, a towel having been pulled through the opening ready for use.

Figurefiis aperspective-view showing the-rear '10 plate of a towel clamp constructed in accordance "with the present invention.

Figure 7 is a view-similar to Figure-6 showing a front 'p'lateof the towel clamp. V

Referring to the above'drawings, a designates a suitable cabinet-having a front cover a" which maybe secured in a closed position to the cabe dwhich the towel clamp is suspended. l

If desired a mirror a -may be provided on'the jouter 'face of the cover a and an aperture a is formed in the cover through which one may reach to grasp a towel- A vertical groove a ;formed in the cover a, serves 'as a guide forthe '25 operating knob b of a-weight b. 7

At the upper portion of the cabinet, between the cover 'andthe 'top'yof 'the cabinet, 'an elongated aperture a is provided through which 'the weight b may passwhen itliS elevated by moving "the knobb' to the position'shown in 'Figurezg' The weight b rides'in grooves "formed. by retaining flanges a on the cover a and is formed with an. aperture b which aligns with aperture a when the knob is in the position shown in Figure 2. In this position, a front edge of a towel is exposed for use and the towel may be pulled out by reaching through the aligned apertures and pulling the edge thereof as shown in Figure 5. Adjacent the upper edge of the aperture b the weight b carries an inwardly extending lip 21 which engages the edge of the foremost towel of the pack and frees it from the pack, thus facilitating the grasping of the towel by the user.

A bracket a is mounted on one side of the cabinet a and is formed with spaced semi-circular flanges (1 between which a semi-circular groove is provided. In order to retard the downward movement of the weight b, a counterweight c is provided. This counterweight is connected to the weight b by a strap (1. In the preferred form, the groove between the flanges a is formed of metal and the strap d is also formed of metal. Connecting the strap d to an eye 17 on the weight b, is a leather strap e. It will be understood, of course, that the coefiicient of friction between leather and metal is greater than that between metal and metal. In view of this fact, therefore, movement of the weight 0 during the period that the leather strap 6 rides over the metal bracket is slower than when the metal strap d rides over the metal bracket. Proper selection of materials, radius of curvature of the groove on the bracket a and weight of counterweight a, will provide the time intervals found most desirable for these successive periods of operation.

It is preferred that the towels be secured together as by sewing along corresponding adjacent edges of the towels, thus forming in effect, a book of towels. Each towel h is doubled back upon itself and the successive towels overlie each other as clearly shown in Figure 4. In this position they are clamped by means of front and back plates and g, respectively. Elastic bands 9 are secured to the back plate g and engage These keepers are notched at 9' to plate is further provided with apertures i which engage the hooks a. and suspend the book of towels in an inverted position in the cabinet.

:The towel engaging surface of the back plate g in the connected ends of the towels and this rod is carried in suitable notches a formed at the sides of the towel cabinet. After being used, the towels fall down within the cabinet as shown in Figure 4 and after all of the towels have been used, they are suspended from the rodi in a manner which will be quite apparent. Projecting shoulders ca engage the forward lower portions of the book of towels at either side thereof and thus serve as a reenforcement for preventing. more than onetowel from being removed at a time when the book is large. I f

V In order that suitable advertising may be displayed when a towel isbeing used, a frame 9' is provided with a rearwardly extending flange 9 which is engaged by the upwardly movingedge of the weight 'band elevated tothe position shown. in Figure 5. Suitable advertising indicia may be applied to the front face of the frame a and thusautomatically displayed as the towel is used. On the. forward face of the weight 1),

clips b are provided for receiving additional ad vertising matter It. When the knob is raised to the position shown in Figures 3 and 5, the advertising matter is is above the opening a but, as the weight drops, the advertising matter is displayed through the opening.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the rear plate of the towel clamp follows the pack and advances toward the front plate as the towels are withdrawn and used. The front plate stays in place and thus always -provides a free edge of a towel adjacent the opening u While the invention has been described with specific reference to the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it is obvious tion, and a non-rotatable metallic friction surface in the cabinet over which the portions pass.

2. In a device of the character described having a cabinet adapted to receive a plurality of towels and a weightedclosure thereon adapted to be moved to exposea towel for use, a counterweight in the cabinet, means connecting the counterweight to the weighted closure, said means having portions, the coefficients of friction of which diffen and a non-rotatable surface in thecabinet over which the connecting means passes.

3..In a device of the character described having a cabinet adapted to receive a plurality of, towels, manually operated means to expose a towel for use and return. a used towel into the cabinet, means operable upon exposing a towel for use to control the action of the last named means, said means comprising means whereby the operation of the first named means is slow at first and more rapid after a predetermined time.

' EDWARD T. I-IAILS.

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