US2140836A - Ironing machine cabinet - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 20, 193s. A, H ERHRDT 2,140,836

IRONING MACHINE CABINET Filed Aug. l5, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l Eig I -7 INVENTOR. /ndrezd Gerhardt BY ATTORNEY.

Dec. 2o, 1938. A. H. GERHARDT 2,140,836

IRONING MACHINE CABINET I E 37 v INVENTOR.

/zz drew erjz ara/ ATTORNEY.

Dec. 20, 1938. A. Hl GERHARDT 2,140,836

IRONING MACHINE CABINET Filed Aug: 13, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ll l." 532;@ I 609 57 JLl.

INVENTOR,

/712 drew/ Gerharda ATTORNEY.

Patented Dea zo, 193s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE: l`

A 2,140,836 l IRONING MACHINE CABINET Andrew II. Gerhardt, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Electric Household Utilities Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 13, 1931, Serial`No. 158,884

3 Claims. (Cl. S12-190) ciated with the support for enclosing the in-` strument or unit.

Heretofore, covers or closure means for cabinets of the general character indicated have generally been formed as inverted box-like structures, preferably including a substantially at top adapted to serve as an auxiliary supporting surface. Such closures or covers usually have been formed as a unitary element, and frequently the dimensions thereof are such as to render handling thereof rather awkward and difcult, particularly when the closures or covers `are of the type that are adapted for bodily removal from the table-like support. In some commercial forms of apparatus of this general class, the

cover or closure means is associated with the` table-like support in a manner for permitting pivotal movement thereof to and from Yoperative position. In some of such constructions, the cover or closure means, when removed to expose the instrument or like unit, is compelled to occupy a space immediately rearwardly of the table-like support, or at one end thereof. Mani' festly, when apparatus, having such types of closures, are positioned in close proximity to a wall or other objects, it is first necessary to move them a sufficient distance to provide adequate clearance for accommodating the cover or closure means, when same is moved to expose the l instrument or unit.

One of the primary objects of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved form of closure means of the character indicated, which is constructed and ari ranged to obviate the foregoing objections, and which may be quickly and conveniently manipulated for exposing or` enclosing an instrument or like unit on a table-like support. l

Another object of this' invention is to provide i an improved closure means of the character indicated wherein said closure means is composedl of a pair of end panels associated with a pair of opposed ends of the table-like support, to-

gether with a iiexible cover element adapted to D be moved into and out of cooperation with said end panels for enclosing the instrument or exposingsame for use.

A further object is to provide an improved closure means for apparatus of the character inli dicated'comprising a exible cover element adaptfor the top of the said table suIJpOrt.

Other objects and advantages of this inven- 10 ed for cooperation with a pair of end panel elements, hingedly 'associated with the ends of the 'table-like support, and adapted to normally extend in upright position, to constitute a portion of the closure means; but which are also adapted, VIii when the flexible cover is withdrawn,- to be Iswung outwardly and downwardly substantially in horil Zonta] position, to constitute a shelf or extension tion will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings-in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table-like support and closure means constituting the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the table-like sumiort-` y with the closure means in inoperative position, exposing the instrument or like unit.y

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the table-like support 20 and closure means.

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged transverse sections, taken as indicated at line 4-4 and line 5--5 respectively on Fig. 1.

' Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View through 25 the flexible cover, taken at line 6-6 on Fig. 1

Fig. '7 is a section through the flexible cover taken as indicated at line 1--1 on Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a staggered horizontal section through the table-like support .and closure, taken as in- 30 dicated at line 8-8 on Fig. 1, showing latching means for releasably securing one of the end panels of the closure means in upright position.

Fig. 91s la vertical sectional view, taken as indicated at line 9-9 on Fig. 8. I 35 Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing a modified form of latching means. 'j

Fig. 11 is a section through themodified form of latching means, taken as indicated at line II-H on Fig. l0. Y v

Referring now in detail to the drawings, I have herein illustrated the present invention in connection with a table-like structure on which is mounted a conventional ironing machine of the character usually employed in the home. It will 45 beV manifest, however, that the present invention is readily adaptable to various other types of cabinet constructions for enclosing a wide variety of instruments or'like units, when mounted on a table-like support. .5o The construction herein illustrated includes a table-like support of generally rectangular form preferably fabricated of sheet metal and comprising a top Il),` and end supports herein shown ".formed aspanels Il, the vertical edges of which 65 are bent angularly for purposes of reinforcement, and also to serve the function of leg members. The marginal edge of said top is formed with a depending reinforcing flange or skirt .10?, which is adapted to over-lie said end panels, and rigidly secured thereto in any convenient manner, such as by welding. Secured to the lower The means for enclosing the ironer unit, and' constituting the presentinvention, is preferably constructed and formed so that in closed position it presents a substantial flattop area, which may.

be used as an auxiliary supporting surface. Said closure means include a pair of swingable endpanel members 20, which are normally disposed in upright position at the ends of the table top l0, and are connected to said table-like support in a-manner to permit disposition of said panels in a substantially horizontal plane, Withthe upper surfacethereof approximately flush with the table top I0, as seen in the drawings, and thereby constitute auxiliary shelves or extensions for said table top. Such shelves or extensions, in connection with various types of instruments or units, and particularly with ironing machines, are of considerable importance, in that they provide adequate auxiliary supporting surfaces for fabrics to be ironed, or fabrics that have been ironed, or for supporting various apparatus used in connection with the ironing operation, such as a panofwater, sponge, or spraying device. For purposes of appearance and economy in manufacture, said end panels 20 are of similar' construction, and are formed of sheet metal, fabricated in a manner to produce a substantially closed hollow body providing two spaced apart substantially parallel panel surfaces. As will hereinafter appear, said panels are so connected to the table-like support, that in' upright closing position, the one main surface thereof is substantially ush with the end panels Il of the tablelike support, and in 'operating position, that is,

when disposed in horizontal position, as a shelf,

the opposite surface of the endpanels 20 are posi? tioned substantially table-like structure.

The outer marginal edges of eachof the end panels 20 are formed' in a manner to provide a continuous track or guideway 2|, around the free marginal edge thereof. The tracks are each composed of two straight vertical portions, and-a straight horizontal portion at the upper edge, the latter being joined to the former by arcuate vportions. A flexible cover-element 23 has its opposite marginal edges terminating in a plane for ush with the top Il 0f the movement into the tracks 2l, of the -end panels 20, when said panels are in upright position, to

complete the closure for enclosing the ironer unit or other instruments r units.

For convenience invmoving the flexible cover to and from cooperative relation withrsaid end panels 29:, I providea pair of spaced apart handlesr, adjacent the-foremost edge of said cover element. If desired, the flexible cover may be formed of a single sheet of flexible material, preferably metal, or Ias herein shown, it may be composed of a multiplicity of parallel metal slatlike members 25, ilexiblyconnected together in any suitable manner, to form' a unitary body. In order to utilize relatively light weight sheet metal for fabricating these slats, for purposes of economy and lightness in weight to render the moving of the cover to and from operative position as convenient and as practical as possible, said slat elements are connected by a vplurality of transversely spaced apart reinforcing members 28. For this purpose, the slat elements 25 each have their marginal longitudinal edges down turned to formflanges 2l, and formed in said flanges are aligned series-of apertures 30, for receiving said members 28, which serve to connectand reinforce said slat elements. The flanges 29 at the ends of the slats are preferably cut away to fit conveniently in the guideways. It will be apparent,-

however, that if desired these slat like members 25 may be directly interconnected in a manner to provide adequate flexibility.

Secured to the angularly bent portions of the rear side of end panels Il of the table-like structure, are a pair of upright guides 26, each having its marginal outer edge folded-back upon itself in 'spaced-apart relation to form a g'uideway 26, with which may be aligned the guideways 2| of the panels 20, for receiving and guiding the marginal vertical edges of cover 23 in its movement to and from closing position. As may be seen in Fig. 5, the rear portion of guideways 2|'of panels 20, are formed of sufilcient width to accommodate said folded marginal portions of the guides 26. Secured by bolts 21EL to the inside surface of said guides 2B is a transversely extending panel 21, preferably of sheet metal, which serves to reinforce the structure and also conceal the underside of the cover element when it is disposed in open position, as may be seen in Figs. 2 and 3.

By virtue of .this construction the flexible cover depending leg portion projecting downwardly from said panels through apertures |01', formed in the top and skirt portion In* ofthe table top I0, and are provided with transversely extending pins 35, immediately below said slots, to'preclude withdrawal of the depending leg portions of the members 32 from the table-like structure. These pins 3l are so located as to enable the bottom edge'of the end panels 2l to normally rest upon the top of the table l0, while also permitting said edge to ride around the'rounded marginal edge of the top il, for Adislvosition flatly against the skirt portion I II ofthe table top, as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 9 and 11. Desirably, the depending portions of the legs 32 `are formed with ing to abut against inner surface of upper portion of the end panels H lof the table-like support, to serve as stops for-arresting the panelsv 20 in vertical or upright position, as seen -in Fig. 9. The oifset portions 32h are adapted, when the end panels "are disposed in horizontal position, to 74 free access to said onset portions 32* and 32h, the vportions 32l servlatching means for each of the end panels, al- `though it will be apparent that a single operating Y mechanism may be :arranged for controlling the latches simultaneously. Rigidly secured by screws 38 inthe inturned angularly bent portions of each of the end panels Il are a pair of aligned bearings 39, providing journaled support for transversely disposed rock shafts 40. Rigidly attached to each shaft, by means of pins 4| are a pair of horizontally extending latch bars 42, the outer ends of which are notched as indicated at 43, to provide seats for receiving the lower ends of the respective legs 32, which constitute the hinge connection for the end panels, as seen in Fig. 9. Each rock shaft 40 is normally urged in a direction for raising the latch bars 42 by means of a coil spring 44 surrounding the shaft intermediate one of the bearings 39, and the adjacent latch bar 42, with one end of theV spring disposed beneath said latch bar and its opposite end engaged in the bearing 39. Each shaft 40 is adapted to be separately rocked to depress the latch bars 42 and thereby release the corresponding leg portions 32 to permit disposing the respective end panels 2li in horizontal'position. This may be accomplished by means of a depressible plunger 45, which extends upwardly through the table top l0, having its upper end provided with a convenient hand knob 46. Each of said plungers is journaled in a bushing 4l, secured in the table top Ill and is dimensioned so that its lower end normally rests upon a transversely extending pin 49, extending laterally from the adjacent latch bar 42. It will now be apparent that when the plunger is depressed to the dotted position indicated in Fig. 9, the corresponding latch bars '42 will be rocked to the dotted position, as seen in Fig. 9, removing the seats 43 from engagement with said leg members, 32, at which time said leg members are released to permit the corresponding end panel 20 to be moved outwardly and downwardly to horizontal position. Due to the particular construc-Q tion herein illustrated, it will be apparent that as the end-.panel 20 is again swung upwardly to operative position, the lower end of the leg members 32 wipe over latch bars 42, and automatically become latched by said latch bars 42, which are normally urged in an upwardly direction by the coil springs 44.

Figs. 10 and 1l represent a modified form of releasable latching mechanism. In this construction the end panels 20 are hingedly attached to the table top Ill in a manner similar to that above described, and for convenience the latch mechanism at one end only will be described. The hinge connection to the end panel 20 includes a pair of transversely spaced apart leg members 50 secured by screws 5l, interiorly of the end panel; the portion of .the leg projecting downwardly from theend panel 20 includes oilset portions, .50, 50", and 50c, the portions 5Ila and 50b serving respectively as stops in the same manner as the portions 32 and 32D in the construction disclosed in Figs. 8 and 9, while the lower end portion 59 is adapted to be engaged by a modied form of latching device.

Mounted on theinner surface of theend wallV of the end panel Il of the table-like support, by `means of screws 52, are a pair of transversely sspaced apart brackets 53, in which is slldably mounted a horizontally extending operating bar 54, to which' is rigidly attached a. pair of latching members' 55, formed with angula'rly bent hook porti'ons to embrace the lower portions 50 of the legs 50, for'securing the end panel 20 in upright position. Said sliding bar 54 is normally urged in a direction to cause the latches 55 to engage said lower portions 50c of the hinged legs, by means of a coil spring 56, which is connected by means of a bolt directly to the end'panel l I at one end, and

at its opposite end toan operating handle 51, which is rigidly attached, as by welding, to the slide bar 54. When the slide bar 54 is shifted by. means of the handle 5T to the dotted position, in-

d'cated in Fig. l0, the bar 54 is movedto cause latches 55 to release the lower portions 5ll c of the hinge legs so that the end panel may be swung downwardly to horizontal position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 1. The latching members 55 are each formed with a bevelled end portion 55a so that when the end panel isV swung upwardly l to operating position, the portions 5i!c at the lower ends of the leg members 50 are caused to engage the latch portions 55a in a cam-wise manner, for moving the latches, together'with the bar 54 to a position at which the latches 55 may effectively embrace the lower portions of the hinge legs 50, and thereby lock the end panel 20 in upright position.

Although I have herein shown and described a" preferred embodiment of my invention, manifestly it is capable of modification and rearrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scopethereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be un.- derstood as limiting this invention to the precise embodiment herein disclosed, except as it may be so limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a table-like support including a. top formed of sheet metal and having down-turned marginal flanges at opposite ends, and an instrument or like unit mounted on said top; of means carried on the support for enclosing said instrument or unit, said means comprising a pair of normally upwardly extending panels on the opposite ends of said support, a bodily movable iiexible cover element, and means on the back of thetable-like support for guiding and supporting the flexible cover element, said cover element and end panels being constructed for cooperative engagement for completing the closure, said end panels having their lower ends provided with a floating hinge connection disposed inside of the support, and adapted, when the cover element is moved to inoperative position, to be `swung outwardly and downwardly to substantially horizontal position, in substantially iiush relation with and constituting extensions of the table top, said hinge connections for each end panel including a pair of spaced apart bars projecting downwardly from the panel, through apering panels on the opposite ends of said support, a bodily movable flexible cover element, and means on the back of the table-like support for guiding and supporting the flexible cover element, said cover element and end panels being constructed for cooperative engagement for completing the closure,. said end panels having their lower ends provided .with a floating hinge connection disposed inside of the support, and adapted, when the cover element is moved to inoperative position, to be swung outwardly and downwardly to substantially horizontal position, in substantially flush relation with and constituting extensions of the table top, said hinge connections for each end panel including a pair of spaced apart bars projecting downwardly from the panel, through apertures in the table-like support, and adapted in one position to engage an abutment surface of the support to arrest the end panelin upright position, and adapted to engage another abutment surface of the support to arrest and dispose the end panel in substantially horizontal position, substantially flush with the top.

3. The combination with a table-like support including a top formed of sheet metal and having down-turned marginal flanges at opposite ends, and an instrument or like unit mounted on'said top; of means carried on the supportfor enclosing said instrument or unit, said means comprising a pair of normally upwardly extending panelsinside of the support, and adapted, when the c over element is moved to inoperative position, to be swung outwardly and downwardly to substantially horizontal position, in substantially ush relation with and constituting extensionsof the table top, said hinge connections for each end panel includin'g a pair of spaced apart bars projecting downwardly from the panel, through aperturesin the table-like support, and adapted in one position to engage an abutment surface 20 of the supportto arrest the end panel in upright position, and adapted toengage .another abutment surface of the support to arrest and dispose the end panel in substantially horizontal position, and means below the top forreleasably latching said bars for supporting the end panels in upright position.

\ ANDREW H. GERHARDT.

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