US2003006A - Water tank cover - Google Patents

Description

Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

The present invention, though having more general fields of utility, relates particularly to covers for receptacles, and especially closet-tank covers.

Closet tanks are manufactured by many and widely-scattered makers without any attempt at standardization. To each different style, size or shape of tank, therefore, there corresponds but a single, particular, tank cover. It is an event of extreme rarity that a cover designed for one tank will fit another, being either too long or too short, too narrow or too wide, too low or too high. Even if a cover of another make should accidentally happen to be of exactly the correct dimensions, furthermore, it will usually still be found not to be suitable, because lacking some interior configuration by means of which it is intended to be held in position, or for other reasons.

Manufacturers of one tank will not produce covers for another make of tank, as such practice would involve great expenditures in the way of machinery and the like, for which there would be no adequate return. They are not, indeed, greatly interested in selling even their own make of covers, apart from the complete tank unit, cover and all.

When a tank cover becomes broken, or otherwise damaged, it becomes necessary first, notwithstanding the great delay involved, to try to search out the particular manufacturer of the tank unit, which is practically impossible, as few manufacturers mark their tanks, except with a paper sticker on the outside of the tank which is destroyed when installed. It is only too often the case that, after great lapse of time, this search proves to be fruitless. The quest sometimes ends in a report that the desired manufacturer is no longer in business. Even in those cases where a tank cover might otherwise be procurable from the original maker, it happens, over and over again, that the particular cover desired is not obtainable, because it has gone out of style, or for any of a dozen other explanations. Such reports are not very comforting to the prospective customer who may, meanwhile, have deliberately subjected himself to great inconvenience inthe hope that he would soon be rewarded with a neat-appearing and efiicient tank-cover fixture.

The actual fact, as observed in practice, is, that it is almost impossible to replace a tank cover of this nature. If one can not pick up an odd cover by chance, which is very slim, one must, in most cases, purchase a completely new tank outfit, or else utilize some makeshift, with the consequent irritation involved. A new tank outfit,

of course, involves great expense. As for makeshifts, they will be found not to rest securely on the tank, they will wobble and fall, sometimes off, and sometimes into, the tank, and be subject 5 to other inconveniences, besides, in most cases, constituting an eyesore.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a novel tank cover that shall be adapted for ready replacement of other tank 10 covers, without being subject to the above-described defects.

A further object is to simplify the construction of tank covers, to the ends that they may be manufactured at small expense, though thoroughly 15 efficient, in operation.

A further'object is to provide a replaceable cover of general utility.

Another object is to improve upon mechanisms for holding replaceable parts together.

Other and further objects will be explained hereinafter, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will now be explained in connection with the accompanying drawing, in 25 which Fig. 1 is an elevation of a closet tank, showing the tank cover of the present invention thereon; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken upon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking upward, in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a vertical sec- 30 tion of a modification, taken upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, but upon a larger scale than in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a corresponding, but fragmentary, vertical section of a further modification; and Fig. 5 35 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a further modification.

The cover 2 of the present invention is shown resting upon the upper walls 4 of a closet tank 6 that is secured in any desired manner to a wall 40 8 of the bathroom, either directly, or indirectly to the bathroom floor, in which event the tank 6 may be spaced from the wall 8. In the former case, the rear wall 9 of the tank will be in direct contact with the wall 8, as illustrated in Fig. 4; 45 in the latter case, it will be separated therefrom, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The inner or under face ID of the cover 2 is provided with a yielding plunger I! that binds yieldingly against an adjacent inner wall [4 of the tank, that is dis- 0 posed opposite to the wall 9. The yielding, binding action is produced by a spring l6, preferably in coil form, the left-hand end of which is mounted in a bore I5 in a support ll, secured to the under face of the cover 2 by screws l9, and to the right-hand end of which the plunger 12 is connected. The spring l6, by forcing the plunger l2 against the inner wall 14 of the tank 6, drives the opposite side I8 of the cover 2 yieldingly in the opposite direction. toward the left, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4. The side I8 of the cover 2 may thus be forced into engagement with the bathroom wall 8, as illustrated in Fig. 4. If the wall 8 is too far distant, as is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the left-hand edge or shoulder 20 of the support I! will be forced into engagement with the wall 9. By reason of the yielding pressure thus exerted against either the wall 8 or the wall 9, on one side, and against the inner wall M of the tank, on the other side, the cover 2 is held yieldingly in position on the tank 6. This yielding, holding action is sufficient to secure the cover tightly in place, with the edge 22 of the cover, opposite to the side 18, projecting over the tank 6. The cover may easily be removed from the tank, in opposition to the yielding, binding action of the plunger l2, merely by a lifting force on the cover 2.

A projection 24, extending crosswise through the bore 15, is disposed between the turns or coils of the spring I6, whereby rotative movement of the spring l6 relative to the cover will effect longitudinal adjustment of the spring It. The plunger I2 is thus rendered adjustable upon the cover relative to the shoulder 20 to vary the binding action of the plunger I2, to adapt the device for different tanks, of different width, or differently positioned relative to the bathroom wall 8.

The plunger 12 is provided with a reduced stem 25 that is mounted in one end of aplunger tube 26. The right-hand end of the spring 5 is mounted in the other end of the tube 26. The rubber of the stem 25 will hold the plunger [2 yieldingly, but firmly, in position in the righthand end of the tube 26. The tube 26 is provided with an interior projection 28 disposed between turns of the spring, near the right-hand end of the spring. Relative rotative movement of the spring l6 and the tube 26 will thus effect relative longitudinal adjustment of the spring in the tube, thus varying the position of the plunger l2 upon the under side of the cover 2 and, therefore, its binding action against the wall Id.

The coils of the spring H5 at its ends 30 may be bent reversely or otherwise fashioned so as to close the spring at its ends and present a barrier against further adjustment with respect to the projections 24 and 28. The removal of the spring Hi from the bore I5 and separation of the spring l6 and the tube 26 are thus prevented. After the right-hand end 30 of the spring l6 has thus been reversely bent or otherwise treated, the stem 25 may be cemented in place in the tube 26, as illustrated at 32. The plunger I2, at the end of the stem 25, may be in the form of a rubber button or in the-form of a suction cup. The projection 24 may be in the form of a screw extending into the cover 2, as illustrated in Fig. 3, in which event, one of the screws l9 may be omitted, as shown in Fig. 4.

A very effective substitute cover is thus provided adaptable, because of the double adjustment, at both ends of the spring [6, for use with a large variety of sizes, shapes and makes of tanks 6, that is held in position without wobbling, and so rigidly that it may serve as a shelf as well as a cover, and that is ornamental as well as useful, besides being exceedingly inexpensive. If the cover is to be used as a shelf, it may, as illustrated in Fig. 3, be provided with pegs 34, connected by a wire or other enclosure 36, to retain'articles supported thereon. The cover 2 may, furthermore, form the bottom of a box having outer walls 38 provided, if desired, with intermediately positioned walls 40 to separate compartments 42 of the box, as is shown in Fig. 5.

Other modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art, and all such are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cover for a flush tank that is provided with substantially vertical walls one of which is adapted to be secured to a building wall, one side of the cover being adapted to engage against the said building wall, the cover being provided with an inner. substantially fiat, face that adapted to rest in substantially horizontal pouttion on the said vertical walls to close the flush tank, a support of less width than the width of the tank being secured to said inner face and. having a bore that is horizontally disposed wh n the cover rests on the said vertical walls, a coiled spring one end of which is horizontally dlSpOFwl in the bore, a plunger connected with the otlm end of the spring and extending horizontally u:- yond the support, the plunger being adapted by the spring to bind yieldingly against an inner wall of the flush tank that is disposed opposite to said one wall, whereby the yielding action of the sprin will cause the said side of the cover to engage yieldingly against said building wall in order to hold the cover yieldingly in horizontal position on the fiush tank, the-cover being adapted to be removed. from the flush tank in opposition to the yielding binding action of the spring, and means for adjusting the spring to vary the binding action of the plunger.

2. A cover for a tank one wall of which is secured to a wall, one side of the cover being adapted to engage against the said second-named wall, the cover being provided with an inner, substantially fiat, face having a plunger, a coil sprin for forcing the plunger yieldingly against an inner wall of the tank disposed opposite to said one wall, whereby the yielding action of the spring will cause the said side of the cover to engage yieldingly against said second-named wall in order to hold the cover yieldingly on the tank, the cover being adapted to be removed from the tank in opposition to the yielding binding action of the plunger, said inner face of the cover having a projection disposed between the turns of the spring, whereby rotative movement of the spring relative to the cover will effect longitudinal adjustment of the spring to vary the binding action of the plunger.

3. A cover for a tank one wall of which is secured to a wall, one side of the cover being adapted to engage against said second-named wall, the cover being provided with an inner, substantially flat face having a coil spring, a plunger tube in which the coil springis mounted and having an interior projection disposed between turns of the spring, whereby relative rotative movement of the spring and the tube will effect relative longitudinal adjustment of the spring in the tube, the plunger tube being adapted to be forced by the spring into yielding engagement with an inner e wall of the tank opposite to said one wall, whereby the yielding action of the spring will cause the said side of the cover to engage yieldingly against said second-named wall in order to hold the cover yieldingly on the receptacle, the cover being fill adapted to be removed from the receptacle in opposition to the yielding binding action of the plunger.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a coil spring, and a tube in which the coil spring is mounted and having an interior projection disposed between turns of the spring, whereby relative rotative movement of the spring and the tube will eifect relative longitudinal adjustment of the spring and the tube.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support having a projection, and a coil spring supported by the support with the projection disposed between turns of the spring, whereby relative rotative movement of the spring will efiect longitudinal adjustment of the spring relative to the support.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support having a bore provided with a projection, a coil spring one end of which is mounted in the bore with the projection disposed between turns of the spring near one end of the spring, whereby relative rotative movement of the spring will effect longitudinal adjustment of the spring relative to the support, a tube in which the other end of the spring is disposed and having an interior projection disposed between turns of the spring near said other end of the spring, whereby relative rotative movement of the spring and the tube will effect relative longitudinal adjustment of the spring and the tube, and a plunger carried by the tube.

7. A tank cover provided with an inner, substantially flat, face having a shoulder and a plunger, a coil spring for forcing the plunger yieldingly against an inner wall of the tank in order to force the shoulder toward an oppositely disposed wall, thus to hold the cover yieldingly on the tank, said inner face of the cover having a projection disposed between the turns of the spring whereby rotative movement of the spring relative to the cover will efiect longitudinal adjustment of the spring to vary the binding action of the plunger, and the plunger being provided with a projection disposed between the turns of the spring, whereby rotative movement of the spring will effect longitudinal adjustment of the plunger.

8. A tank cover having a plunger, a coil spring for forcing the plunger yieldingly against an inner wall of the tank, whereby the yielding action of the spring will cause the said side of the cover to engage yieldingly against said wall in order to hold the cover yieldingly on the tank, the cover being adapted to be removed from the tank in opposition to the yielding binding action of the plunger, means engaging with the coils of the spring for adjusting the spring, and means for preventing separation of the spring and the engaging means.

9. A cover for a flush tank that is provided with substantially vertical walls, the cover being adapted to rest in substantially horizontal position on the said walls to close the flush tank, a support of less width than the width of the tank secured to the inner face of the cover and having a bore that is horizontally disposed when the cover rests on the said vertical walls, a coiled spring one end of which is horizontally disposed in the bore, a plunger connected with the other end of the spring and extending horizontally beyond the support, the plunger being adapted by the spring to bind yieldingly against an adjacent, inner wall of the flush tank in order to hold the cover yieldingly in position on the flush tank, the cover being adapted to be removed from the flush tank in opposition to the yielding binding action of the plunger.

10. A cover for a flush tank that is provided with substantially vertical walls one of which is adapted to be secured to a building wall, one side of the cover being adapted to engage against said building wall, the cover being provided with an inner, substantially flat, face that is adapted to rest in substantially horizontal position on the said vertical walls to close the flush tank, a support of less width than the width of the tank being secured to said inner face and having a bore that is horizontally disposed when the cover rests on the said vertical walls, a coiled spring one end of which is horizontally disposed in the bore, a plunger connected with the other end of the spring and extending horizontally beyond the support, the plunger being adapted by the spring to bind yieldingly against an inner wall of the flush tank that is disposed opposite to said one wall, whereby the yielding action of the spring will cause the said side of the cover to engage yieldingly against said building wall in order to hold the cover yieldingly in horizontal position on the flush tank, the cover being adapted to be removed from the flush tank in opposition to the yielding binding action of the spring.

11. A cover for a flush tank that is provided with substantially vertical walls, the cover being adapted to rest in substantially horizontal position on the said walls to close the flush tank, the inner face of the cover having a shoulder and a plunger that is horizontally disposed when the cover rests on the said vertical walls, a coil spring for forcing the plunger yieldingly against an inner wall of the tank in order to force the shoulder against an oppositely disposed .wall,

thus to hold the cover yieldingly on the tank, the

cover being adapted to be removed from the tank

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