US2037479A - Drop cabinet - Google Patents

Description

'Apu-il 14, 1936. P c. MossNEi-z DROP CABINET Original Filed Deo. 5, 1931 3 -Shee'ts--Sheec 1 VENTOR. gf/V.: .inea

, #isf/Oer@ ATTORNEY.

Apri1'14, 193e. P ,C MOSSNER 290315479 DROP CABINET original Filednec.y 5, 1951 5, sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. Peff @Waas/7621;

i VM-mm ATTORNEY.

Apri@ '114, 119%. P. c. MOSSNER: www@ DROP CABINET Original Filed Deo. 5, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheei 3 Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Mich., by Saginaw, Mich.

Bertha Messner,

administratrix,

Reled for abandoned application Serial No.

579,161, December 5,

1931. This application October 31, 1934, Serial No. 750,892

11 Claims.

This invention relates to cabinets, and more specifically to a cabinet for mounting a mangle or similar device, and in such manner that it can* be lowered into the cabinet and concealed from View when not in use.

' Another object is to design a cabinet provided with means for automatically and smoothly raising the handle or other device, andfurther provide means for locking the mechanism in its ,n raised and in its lowered position.

vA further object is to design a cabinet having a hinged side wall, and provide means whereby said wall can be held in raised position only When the device islocked in its raised position.

A further object still is to provi-de means for regulating the speed of travel as the device is raised, and also to provide a hinged cover which acts as a table and closure means for top of the cabinet when the mangle vor other device is not in use.

With the above and other objects in view, the present vinvention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter morefully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly .pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings- Fig. l isa side view of his improv-ed cabinet, the dotted lines illustrating a mangle mounted thereon and in position for operation, the dotted lines at the bottom illustrating the position of the lifting mechanism when the device is in lowered position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View with the mangle removed and the cover in open position, the springs which are connected to the side wall being indicated.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, the solid lines illustrating the position of the lever mechanism when the device is in lowered position, the dotted lines illustrating the position when the device is locked in its raised-position.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, the solid lines showing the position of the braking bar and levers when the mechanism is in lowered position, the broken lines showing (Cl. S12- 21) the ,position of the mechanism when in raised position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric View of the releasing means.

Fig. '7 is a similar view of the brake bar.

Fig. 8 is an isometric view of the actuating links and the jaw which holds the side wall in raised position.

Fig. V9 is a longitudinal part sectional View showing ythe manner of hinging the side wall.

Fig. 10 is a view of the pivot member.

Fig. 1l is an end View thereof.

Fig. l2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the side wall and pivot bearing, the solid lines showing the pivot member locked against rotation, the dotted lines showing it in unlocked position.

Fig. 13 is a similar View illustrating the pivot pin disengaged from the bearing.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 5 .indicates a cabinet, .preferably formed of sheet metal; angles 6 and 'I respectively form the upper and lower edges of the frame, which issupported on legs 8 .as usual, each leg being provided with a caster 9, so that the cabinet can be readily rolled from one position to another.

Suitable Yraising means is provided within the cabinet for .raising the device housed therein into operating position, and comprises oppositely disposed foldable lifting bars I0 and II respectively, which are pivotally connected to the frame I atthe points I2 and I3, these bars being secured together-.intermediate their length by means of a sleeve I4, which is slidably mounted on the bar I0, a bolt I5 being formed integral with said 9 sleeve, and is anchored in the bar II, so that as the bars are folded, this sleeve freely slides to compensate for this folding action.

Transversely disposed bars I6 and I1 respectively are secured to or can be formed integral with the free ends of the lifting bars IIJ and II, and spaced apart rollers I8 are journaled thereon, and on which the mangle base I9 is mounted, a mangle 2l] being secured on said base as usual, the base being of a size to snugly fit the opening in the top of the cabinet.

Clips 2I are secured to the lifting bars I0 and I I at a point directly adjacent the bars I6 and I'I, and springs 22 are anchored to said clips and tend to draw these bars Iand I'I toward each other, links 23 being provided on the ends of the bars I6 and Il, and one end of aspring 24 is anchored to each link, the opposite ends being anchored to a pin 25Y provided on the side wall of the cabinet and adjacent the upper edge thereof, and it will be lll obvious that when the lifting bars I8 and I I are in position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, that these springs 24 will be under tension, tending to pull the free ends of the lifting bars Iii and II toward each other.

T-shaped brake bars 25 are provided on opposite ends of the cabinet, and are formed as clearly shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the upper end of the inner leg of each brake bar 25 is rounded as shown at 2'I, the intermediate section being angled, the lower end being rounded as shown at 23, and a shoulder 23 is provided on the face directly adjacent the upper end and for a purpose to be presently described.

A resilient latch bar 33 is mounted on the end of the cabinet directly adjacent the brake bar, the lower end extending inwardly from the side wall, and is formed as clearly shown in Fig. 6, a block 3I being secured to lower end of said latch bar 3D, the upper end of said block being beveled as shown at 32. The latch 33 is slidably mounted on the bar 35, the upper end being offset as shown at 34 to accommodate a link 35 which is pivotally secured thereto by means of the pin 35, said latch 33 being slotted as shown at 31, and a T-shaped pin 38 is mounted in said slot with the head engaging the face of the latch, so that the latch may freely slide thereon. The lower section of the latch 33 is shaped as shown at 39 (see Fig. 6), with the lower end turned inwardly and slidably engaging the block 3l, and it will be obvious that as the latch is forced downwardly, that the end will engage the beveled face 32 of the block 3| and force the lower end of `the bar 38 inwardly towards the wall of the cabinet and release the lug 5I which then moves upwardly in the cabinet.

A flat bar member 48 is secured to the end wall on the opposite side of the guide bar 25, and a jaw member 4I is mounted thereon, said bar being formed with a raised portion 42 intermediate its length. A pin member 43 is journaled in the raised section 42 and projects through the side wall of the cabinet, an offset link 44 being mounted on said pin, and a vertically disposed bar 45 is pivotally connected to the outer end thereof, said bar being also formed with a raised section 45 intermediate its length, the upper end of said bar 45 being pivotally secured to the free end of the link 35, the opposite end of said link being pivotally secured to the end wall at the point 4'I.

The pin 43 projects through the end wall of the cabinet, and a control lever 4S is mounted thereon, the free end of said lever being provided with a handle 49 to facilitate manipulation thereof. Spaced apart bumper members 5i! are provided on the cabinet end walls, and can be formed of any desired resilient material, said bumpers serving as a stop to limit the downward movement of the mangle.

When the raising mechanism is in position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the lever mechanism is in position as indicated in solid lines in Fig. 3, and the mangle is locked in the cabinet by means of the lug 5I which is provided on the end of the raising bar I 5 engaging the block SI provided on the bar 35, and being held thereby, and when the control lever 48 is swung forwardly, the lever 35 will swing downwardly as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, simultaneously shifting the latch 33 on the bar 38, and forcing the lower end of the bar 38 outwardly, so that the lug 5I is released. The springs 24 then pull the free ends of the raising bars I3 and II upwardly; this travel being controlled by a braking action resulting from the angle of inclination of the brake bars 26, the angle being determined by the body of the lever 35 engaging and sliding on the rounded portion 2 of the brake bar leg.

When the travel is such that the brake eect equals the pull or lift of the springs 24 the device will stop; the lever 48 is then swung in the reverse direction, so that the brake bars 26 gradually swing to vertical position. The springs 22 then force the mangle upwardly to position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the speed of travel being determined by the speed of travel of the control lever. Metal shoes 52 (Fig. 5) are secured to the ends of the mangle base and engage the brake bars, so that excessive friction is avoided and the operation is free and smooth.

The device must now be locked in its raised position, and this is accomplished by swinging the control lever forwardly to position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3; this forces the end of the brake bar 26 inwardly, so that the mangle base rests on the shoulder 29, and the device is now in locked position.

In order that the mangle operator may be seated close to the mangle while at work, the front panel 53 of the cabinet is pivotally mounted to permit it to swing inwardly and as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 3 of the drawings, so that the operators knees may be accommodated, this pivotal mounting of the panel being illustrated in Figs. 9, l2, and 13 of the drawings, the upper end of said panel being rolled to form a sleeve 54 in which one end of a pin 55 is mounted, the opposite end of said pin 55 being mounted in a bearing 56 suitably secured to the upper end of the legs i3. The ends of the sleeve 54 are slotted as at 5l, and a hook-shaped leg 58 is formed integral with the pin 55, and when in a certain predetermined position is adapted to be accommodated in the slots 51, the hook end 59 of the leg 58 being accommodated in a suitable pocket (not shown) provided in the frame of the side panel.

A resilient leg member 60 is riveted or otherwise secured to the edge of the panel 53, and when the mechanism is in locked position this panel 53 can be swung inwardly so that the leg 35 engages and is locked in the jaw 4I provided on the bar 40, being held in said position until the control lever is swung rearwardly to unlock the mangle, when the raised section 4S of the link 45 forces the leg 60 inwardly and out of engagement with the jaw 4I, it permits the panel 53 to swing down to normal position, and I wish to direct particular attention to the fact that this panel cannot be locked in raised position until the mangle is locked, as the raised section 46 of the bar 45 will prevent engagement, and the leg 60 will merely slide over the jaw 4I, and the operator thus is aware that the mangle is not locked in its raised position, because the panel will not remain up.

The panel can be readily removed from the cabinet if desired; it is merely necessary to release the hooks 59 as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 12. The legs 58 are then swung upwardly and inwardly into the slots 5l, and the pins 55 will then be clear of the bearings 55, so that the panel can be easily removed.

When it is desired to lower the mangle in the cabinet, the control lever 48 is swung rearwardly so that the upper end of the brake bar 26 moves outwardly, and the mangle base is then disengaged and can be manually forced downwardly into the cabinet until the lug 5I engages 'the block 3i of Lthe latch lever, .thereby locking vfthe .mangle 'in .its lowered position.

A top lid or panel 6| is hingedly connected to the cabinet'by .meansof the hinges 62, and when the mangle is lowered, this ,panel is .swung to closed position, and the cabinet can then be used as a table.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that the inventorhas perfected a very simple, practical, and convenient drop cabinet and mechanism for mangles and similar devices.

What is claimed is:

1. A drop cabinet of the class described comprising a frame, opposed lifting bars having one end pivotally connected to said frame, said bars being foldable with relation to each other, resilient means connecting the free ends of the bars and tending to draw said free ends towards each other, means for locking said bars in folded position, and additional resilient means connected to the lifting bars and to said cabinet respectively for exerting an upward and inward pull on the free ends of the bars.

2. A drop cabinet of the class decribed comprising a frame, opposed lifting bars having one end pivotally connected to said frame, said bars eing foldable with relation to each other, resilient means connecting the free ends of said bars, means on the end of the cabinet for locking the bars in folded position, manually controlled mechanism connected to said locking means for releasing said bars, and controlling the upward travel of the lifting bars in the cabinet.

3. A drop cabinet of the class described and including a frame, opposed lifting bars, one end of each bar being pivotally connected to the end wall of the frame, said bars being foldable with relation to each other, resilient means connecting the free ends of said bars, a sleeve pivotally secured to one of said lifting bars and having slidable engagement with the opposite bar, and means for locking said lifting bars in folded position.

4. A drop cabinet of the class described and including a hinged side panel, opposed lifting bars, one end of each bar being pivotally connected to the end wall of said cabinet, said bars being foldable with relation to each other, a base mounted on the free ends of said bars, resilient means connecting the free ends, means for locking said bars in raised position, latching means for rigidly securing said bars in folded position, and a jaw on the cabinet for engaging said side panel to hold it in raised position when the locking bars are locked in raised position.

5. A drop cabinet of the class described and provided with a hinged cover, a lifting bar pivotally secured to each end wall of the cabinet and foldable with relation to each other, a base member mounted on the free ends of the bars, resilient means connecting the free upper ends of said bars and tending to draw them towards each other to raise said base member, vertically disposedbrake bars mounted on the end walls of the cabinet, and means for actuating said bars to force them into engagement with the base member to form a brake for regulating the upward travel of said base member.

6. A drop cabinet o-f the character described and including a hinged side panel, `a lifting bar pivotally connected to each end of the cabinet, said bars being disposed in opposed relation and being foldable with relation to each other, a transversely disposed bar on the free end of iis ,each .lifting bar, rollers journaled thereon, :resilient -means connecting the upper ends `of said lifting -bars and .tending to .draw them towards each other, and additional resilient means connected to the transversely disposed bars and to the cabinet wall for exerting an upward pull on the lifting bars.

'7. A drop cabinet of the class described and including a frame, a lifting bar pivotally connected to each end wall of the frame, said bars being disposed in opposed relation and being foldable with relation to each other, T-shaped brake bars on the end walls of the cabinet, a base mounted on said lifting bars and slidably engaging said brake bars, resilient means connected to the upper free ends of said lifting bars fo-r drawing them towards each other, means for locking the lifting bars in folded position, a control mechanism, and means connected to said control mechanism for releasing said lifting bars from their folded locked position.

8. A drop cabinet of the class described and including a frame, a lifting bar pivotally connected to each end of the frame, said bars being foldable with relation to each other, a transversely disposed bar on the free end of each lifting bar, spaced apart rollers on the ends of said transversely disposed bars, T-shaped brake bars loosely mounted on the end walls of the cabinet, a base mounted on said rollers and slidably engaging said brake bars, resilient means connecting the upper ends of said lifting bars, and means for forcing the upper ends of said brake bars inwardly and `against the base to provide a braking action on said base as it is being raised.

9. A drop cabinet of the class described and including a frame, a lifting bar pivotally connected to each end of the frame, said bars being foldable with relation to each other a base mounted on said lifting bars, vertically disposed T-shaped brake bars mounted to rock on the ends walls of the cabinet and engaging said base,

resilient means connecting the free ends of said lifting bars and tending toI lift and pull the free ends of the lifting bars towards each other, a base mounted on said lifting bars, means for locking said lifting bars in folded position, a releasing latch, and means for tilting said brake bars to form a brake to regulate the speed of travel of the base as it is being raised.

10. A drop cabinet of the class described and including a frame, opposed lifting bars pivotally mounted therein and foldable with relation to each other, vertically disposed adjustable brake bars mounted on the end walls of the cabinet and .adapted to rock thereon, a base mounted on said lifting bars and engaging said brake bars, resilient means connecting the upper ends of said lifting bars, means for locking said bars in folded position, means for releasing said bars, a control lever, and means for simultaneously actuating said releasing means and brake bars for controlling the upward travel of the base in the cabinet.

11. A drop cabinet of the class described and including a frame, stops on said frame, lifting bars pivotally mounted in the cabinet and foldable with relation to each other, vertically disposed adjustable brake bars mounted on the end walls of the cabinet, each brake bar being provided with a shoulder on the upper end thereof, a base member mounted on said lifting bars and engaging said brake bars, resilient means connecting the upper ends of said lifting bars and tending to pull them towards each other, means for locking said lifting bars in folded position, means for releasing said bars, a control lever, linkage mounted on the cabinet and connected to the control lever for simultaneously releasing said locking bars and adjusting said brake bars to form a brake, said lever when in a certain prethe cabinet.

BERTHA MOSSNER,

Administratrx of the Estate of Peter C. M ossner, 5

Deceased.

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