US2117370A - Cigarette dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

May 17, 1938. J. A. SIGG CIGAI KETTE DISPENSIMG DEVICE Filed May 1, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l J INVENTOR May 17, G

CIGARETTE DISPEiNSIMG DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1, 1937 INVENTO-R Jam-p2 a. 34:

Patented May 17, 1938 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFIQE CIGARETTE DISPENSING DEVICE Joseph A. Sigg, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application May 1, 1937, Serial No. 140,147

5 Claims. (01. 312- 46);

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cigarette dispensing apparatus, and it is among the objects thereof to provide a cigarette dispensing device in the shape of an ornamental figure, which can be constructed of inexpensive materials and which shall be adapted to dispense cigarettes individually by causing the figure to become animated in a novel and pleasing manner.

w Another object of the invention is the provision of means for charging the device with a pack of cigarettes, which are individually dispensed by depressing a convenient portion of the dispensing device, and which shall function to hold 1:, the cigarettes within reach and for the convenient removal thereof by the person desiring to use the cigarette.

The device is susceptible of various modifications including the use of one or more actuators for subjecting the device to its cigarette dispensing movement, and it may also be provided with an ash tray, all as will become more apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings constituting a part hereof, and in which like reference characters designate like parts.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a cigarette dispensing mechanism embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 a similar View of the upper portion thereof showing one position of the dispensing means;

and

Fig. 3 a side elevational view of a modified form of the device.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the draw- 1,5,. ings, the structure therein illustrated comprises a base i having side boards 2 and an upright 3, the spaces between the side boards and uprights 3 being useful as a magazine rack, the uprights 3 being shaped and colored to represent the 40 legs of a robot. Mounted on the upright 3 is a body portion in the form of a coat designated by the numeral 4, which is supported at 5 on the upright 3, this being more clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The coat portion 4 has inte- 45 grally formed therewith a sleeve 6 and a hand "i, with a thumb 8 extending upright. An ash tray 9 is held between the hand and thumb by a Wire strap Hi that fits in a groove beneath the hand and which is pivotally attached to the tray to 9. The upright 3 of the body portion and hand t are made of ply-wood, as are the other elements of the figure. A lever II is pivotally mounted at E2 to the body portion 4, and a head generally designated by the numeral i3 is piv 5 oted to the lever H at M. The head I3 is in tegrally formed with a hat l5, which is provided with a slot 16 of a width to accommodate the cigarettes H; the length of the slot being such as to accommodate a full pack of twenty cigarettes. The cigarettes are charged into the slot 16 by removing a closure l8 that is hinged at 9 and which is a jam fit between the outer pieces of ply-wood that make up the hat, and when charging the cigarettes, the figure is tilted to the position shown in Fig. 1. pulled forward and the cigarettes placed in the position shown in Fig. 2. If the cigarette does not align itself with the mouth opening 29, it cannot bend when forced forward by abutment 21' as the closure 58 will open and permit removal of the misaligned cigarette.

Thelever H is flared at one end 20, which in one position extends vertically, as shown in Fig. 1, and may be colored to have the appearance of a cravat or blouse. By depressing the top of the flared end when the figure is in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, lever ll will move downward about the pivot l2 and by a notched portion 2| will engage a pin 22 in the head of the robot, Which tilts the head forward about its pivot point 14. A stop 23, Fig. 2, is provided on the body portion 4, which is movable in an enlarged opening 24 of the lever to limit the movements of lever ll relative to the body 4. The top of the lever H is provided with a cam surface 25, Fig. 2, which interacts with a com plementary concave surface 26 of the head, and an abutment 2'! on the cam surface of the lever engages the cigarettes I? when the head is in the position shown in Fig. 2. abutting the lower face of lever ll retracts the lever after it has been depressed, forcing it upward and causing the head Hi to tilt back. In this tilting movement, the cigarette abutting against the face 21 of lever H is forced outward through the mouth 29 of the robot, and a lip 30' of a resilient'material holds the cigarette in frictional engagement to prevent its being thrown clear of the robot.

The operation of the device, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is briefly as follows: When the cigarettes are charged in the hat portion by filling the slot l6 through the removal of the lever I8, the latter is moved to the closed position and the robot is fully charged for use. To move a cigarette from the container IE to the position in the mouth of the robot, as shown in Fig. 1, it is only necessary, to depress the flared portion 20 of lever H by pushing it downward. The lever in its downward movement will engage the pin 22 of The closure 18 is A spring 28 the head l3 and cause the head to tilt forward about its pivot l4. Because of the leverage of the hat portion from the fulcrum point l4, the head will have a decided tilting movement to ie forward position, which is shown in Fig. 2, which depresses the spring 28, the latter functioning to automatically restore the lever H to the position shown in Fig. 1. When the head is in the forward tilted movement, as shown in Fig. 2, a cigarette will drop between the lip and the abutment 21 of lever H, and when spring 28 raises the lever H, the head l3 will tilt back and cause the cigarette, which abuts against the face 2?, to be forced outwardly through the mouth of the robot, where it is firmly but yieldingiy engaged by the lip 30.

The cigarette is then removed and another cigarette will fall in its place to be similarly dispensed by the oscillatory movement of the head of the robot in the manner explained.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the robot may be actuated in the manner of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and also by depressing a lever 3| in the form of a foot, which is pivoted at 32 to the leg 33 that is supported on a base 34. The robot of Fig. 3 differs from that of Figs. 1 and 2 in that a separate arm 35 is provided, which is adapted to move slightly forward when the dispensing means is actuated. The arm 35 is provided with a relatively large pivotal member or trunnion 36 that is biased by a spring 31, to retain the normal position of arm 35. The spring is anchored to the upright 33 by a metal strap 38. Arm 35 is attached to the trunnion member 36 by pins 39.

The body 4|! differs from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in that it is movable about a pivot point 4|, which consists of a pin extending through the body and the upright 33. A pin 42 acts as a stop to limit the back movement of the figure, and body 49 is subjected to angular movement about its pivot 4| by a wire 43 attached to the body 40 at 44, and attached to the shoe or lever 3| at 45. By depressing the foot 3|, the body 46 is caused to move forward. The upper portion or dispensing means of the figure is the same as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and consists of a lever 46 pivoted at 41, having a stop pin 48 to limit the back movement. The head 49 is pivoted to the lever at 56, and the lever is notched at to provide abutments for a stop pin 52. The mouth 60 is provided with a yielding lip 6| to frictionally engage the cigarettes as explained in connection with the remaining figures of the drawings.

Lever 4B is biased to its upright position by a spring 62 pivoted at 62a, one end of which is joined by a link 6222 to the spring 31, whereby arm 35 is biased to the horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 3, independently of movement of the body 46. The head is provided with an integrally formed hat 64, which constitutes the container for the cigarettes and which is provided with a narrow lever 65 pivoted at 66 to open for the purpose of charging the container with a pack of cigarettes. An ash tray 61 is mounted on the hand against the upstanding thumb 68 and is secured by a metal strap 69 that fits in a notch ll] of the hand ll.

The operation of the dispensing robot shown in Fig. 3 is briefly as follows: When the container is charged with the cigarettes and it is desired to withdraw one from the lip 6|, the foot 3| is depressed, causing it to pivot about its fulcrum 32. The wire 43 pulls the body 40 forward, which causes the head to snap forward and dispense a cigarette in the same manner as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

As the body 4|] pivots about its fulcrum 4|, the arm 35 remains in the position shown in Fig. 3 as the body is free to rotate about the trunnion 36. However, as the upper portion of the body 40 is swung forward, the arm 35 will be extended a corresponding amount in a forward direction, thus giving the figure the appearance of reaching out with the ash tray 6?, and at the same time causing the head 49 to snap forward in position to dispense a cigarette when the head again assumes its normal upright position. As the body 40 is free of the trunnion 36, its forward movement does not disturb the horizontal position of arm 35, which is retained by the bias of springs 3! and 62. Arm 35 does, however, move forward in response to movement of the foot lever 3| because trunnions 36, while not rotating, will move forward with the body 40.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of this invention that a device as herein described presents a pleasing and useful means for storing and dispensing cigarettes for use in the home, at bridge tables or the like. It will also be apparent that the animated parts of the figure which are activated during the dispensing action of the mechanism, produce a novel and pleasing effect. The device may be constructed of any suitable material such as ply-wood, which is readily cut out and joined by wooden dowels or the like, and can be sprayed to produce a highly ornamental effect.

While several embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction, and that the principles of the dispensing means may be embodied in figures of various form and shapes, without departing from the principles of the invention herein set forth.

I claim:

1. A cigarette dispensing device comprising a stationary body and a movable head, a lever for actuating said head, said head being pivoted for limited movement on the lever and said lever being pivoted for limited movement on said body whereby, when the lever is actuated, the head will be subjected to oscillatory movement relative to said lever, said head having a chamber for storing cigarettes, the bottom of which is provided with an opening, and said lever being provided with an abutment in register with the opening of the container to engage the ends of the cigarettes, and to individually eject the cigarettes through the opening in response to movement of the head.

2. A cigarette dispensing device comprising a stationary body and a movable head, a lever for actuating said head, said head being pivoted for limited movement on the lever and said lever being pivoted for limited movement on said body whereby, when the lever is actuated, the head will be subjected to oscillatory movement relative to said lever, and a spring for normally biasing the lever to maintain the head in upright position, said head having a chamber for storing cigarettes, the bottom of which is provided with an opening, and said lever being provided with an abutment in register with the opening of the container to engage the ends of the cigarettes, and to individually eject the cigarettes through the opening in response to movement of the head.

3. A cigarette dispensing mechanism comprising a support, a lever pivotally mounted on said support for limited movement thereon, a container for cigarettes pivotally mounted on said lever for limited oscillatory movement thereon, said container having a cigarette storing compartment with an opening at the bottom for ejecting cigarettes and said lever extending into said container compartment and having an abutment in register with said container opening whereby in response to oscillatory movement of the container a cigarette is engaged by said abutment and ejected through said container opening.

4. A cigarette dispensing device as set forth in the next preceding claim characterized by means in the container opening for yieldingly engaging the cigarette passing through said opening and for holding it in ejected position.

5. A cigarette dispensing device comprising a stationary support, a movable body pivoted on said support and provided with means for limiting its movement thereon, a lever mounted on said body for limited movement thereon and a container for cigarettes pivotally mounted for limited movement on said lever, said container having a cigarette storing compartment with an opening at the bottom and said lever extending into said container compartment and having an abutment in register with said opening for engaging cigarettes and projecting them through the opening of the container upon oscillatory movement of said container, and a foot lever mounted on said stationary support having a link connected to the movable body to move the latter forward and cause the container to be 0s cillated on the first named lever to thereby sub ject the container and lever to the cigarette dispensing movements.

JOSEPH A. SIGG.

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