US2425952A - Tray and the like - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 19, 1947. A. A. ROBERT TRAY-AND THE LIKE I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed Sept. 11, 1945 F/Gl.

lllllli l lili -llllilillllll lll.

INVENTOR. ROBERT ATTOQNEV Aug.19,1947. A. A. OBERT I 2,425,952

TRAY AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 11, .1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 INVENTOR. ALA/V ,4. ROBERT Patented Aug. 19, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAY AND THE LIKE Alan A. Robert, West Hollywood, Calif.

Application September 11, 1945, Serial No. 615,609

2 Claims.

This invention relates to means and ways for safely carrying articles, and relates particularly to trays and the like for carrying drinks, food, etc. The invention relates, in a particularity, to pendent types of trays which hang in pendulum fashion and which have free sway, to and fro in all directions, and which are so constructed and supported that things placed upon the tray will not spill or slide along the surface thereof. The article supporting surface of the tray, the stiif upright supporting members, and the flexible connected type of grip, are all related in a specific manner, and their sizes are so proportioned, that the tray when carried in the manner intended, has a natural swing which is free of unwanted harmonics or mechanical forces which may jar or disturb the gravitational stability of the article or articles upon the tray.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to present a new and novel tray device which is simple and sturdy in construction, easy to keep sanitary and clean, and which is economical to make and manufacture.

Another object is to provide tray devices with pendent type means of support while being carried, the relationship of the horizontal dimensions with the vertical dimensions being proportioned to create a natural non-jarring swing as the tray devices are carried for serving tables, bars, etc.

Other objects, advantages and features of my invention will appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description, the preamble of these specifications and the appended claims.

Applicant is about to illustrate and describe one of the forms of his invention in order to teach one how to make and use the same, but it is to be understood that the drawings and description thereof are not to limit the invention in any sense whatsoever, except as limited by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of one form of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a. horizontal section taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 1, but enlarged,

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line l-4 of Fig. 1, but enlarged,

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a modified. f rm of the invention,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5,

Fig. '7 is a sectional view, enlarged, of a detail part of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is an elevaticnal view of another form of the invention,

Fig. 9 is a plan view of Fig. 8.

The invention, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, comprises a serving surface or tray element I having the upright rigid or semi-rigid supporting strips or structural elements 2, 3 and 4, a coupler element 5, and a handle or finger grip element 6. The tray element I has the upstanding spaced apart flange members 1, i3 and 9, as shown, for the obvious purpose of providing a positive protective means to prevent dishes, glasses, etc., from accidentally leaving the tray element. The bottom ends of the strips 2 to 4 are curled to provide feet for the tray element, and the other ends of the strips are curled for ornamental purposes and also to provide a convenient place to carry menus, checks, etc.

At the top end of thedevice, where the strips almost join together, there is the central triangular inset or coupling element 5 which has the fiat opposed surfaces of the strips bolted or cemented thereto to form a positive and secure joint for all three strip elements. The coupling element 5 has a bore It which houses a coiled compression spring H, and strong cord or flexible metal cable 12 is laced through the convolutes of the spring and its top end securely fixed between the lower ends 6 and 6" of the handle 6 by a pin 13, as shown; the top end of the cord or cable may have a suitable Washerlike element M to receive the pin and thus make a better joint between the cord and the pin. The lower end of the cord or cable [2 is provided with a suitable head l2 to form a proper stop for the cable against the lower end of the spring. Between the handle 6 and the top of the triangular coupling element 5 there is a rounded or cylindrical element [.5 which has the top thereof cemented to the bottom ends of the handle portions 6' and 6" for the purpose of providing a suitable contact element for the handle ends and a good contact for the coupler element.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 5, 6 and '7 comprises a pair of tray elements [6 and I? which are supported upon the central rigid stem 18. This stem is fixed to the bottom tray element IS by the screw I9, and the top end of the stem is provided with an inverted cup-like terminator 29, the depending flanges of which are cemented to the top sides of the stem. The terminator has a chamber 2| therein to accommodate the knot of the cord or flexible cable 22 3 which passes through a small bore 23 in the top wall of the terminator. Laced onto the cord is a large plastic bead or bored ring 24 adapted to receive the finger of the person carrying the tray.

The two tray elements l6 and H are separated by a plurality of spacers 25 which are fixed to the two tray elements in any suitable manner such as cementing and/or bolts or screws. The top tray element is provided with a plurality of openings or holes 26 which are of any suitable size to accommodate drinking glasses, bottles, and the like.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 comprises a tray element 21 which has its periphery provided with a plurality of strips 28 which provide upward and downward flanges for the tray element. Spaced at intervals about the periphery of the tray element are the rectangular leg pieces 29 which keep the tray element away from a table surface or from whatever the tray element may be placed upon. When the tray element is carried, it is supported by the parabolical shaped frame 39, the lower ends of which are cemented and/or screwed to the sides of the tray, as shown. At the apex of the frame, it is provided with a pair of holes to provide a means for looping or lacing the cord or flexible cable 3!, the top end of the cord having a plastic ring 32 with a bore therein to accommodate the cord and also a tie knot 3|.

From the foregoing explanation, it should be obvious that any of the tray devices shown in the drawings can be carried in a dangling manner so that they can swing in a natural pendulum-like fashion by exercising some degree of caution. The parts of the tray devices are made in certain proportional sizes in order to assure proper natural swing when carried as intended. Note, that in every case, the usable tray element space has a diameter not greater than the length of the rigid support therefor, that is, the rigid support or supports above all the tray elements have a greater vertical height than the horizontal diameter of the usable portion of their respective tray elements. When this relative measurement is adhered to, the tray elements have a natural even gentle swing without any noticeable harmonics which tend to cause jarring motions or any undesirable motions which might tend to cause liquids to spill from glasses and dishes carried upon the tray elements, and also, the table-ware carried upon the tray elements do not slide about and become misplaced. This discovery was made by applicant and found to be very helpful in the design and construction of such tray devices.

Any suitable material may be employed for making the tray elements of this invention, such as various metals, plastics, and other moldable and bendable substances, and any combination of them. Also, various configurations may be given the parts of this invention without in any way lacking the advantages of this invention.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of form, style, design and construction of the whole or any part of the specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the limitations clearly expressed in the following claims:

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tray device accessible from its periphery for placing and removing articles to be carried thereon, a shallow tray element, a bowed narrow and rigid strip having its ends rigidly fixed to opposed sides of the tray element and presenting a top central part for attachment to a limp cordlike element, a limp cord-like element fixed to the top central part with a finger gripping means at the distal end thereof, .said strip having a vertical height greater than the maximum dimension of the usable top portion of the tray element.

2. In a tray device adapted to be carried in a pendent manner and which is accessible from its periphery for placing and removing articles to be carried thereon, a shallow tray element with opposed strips having their bottom ends fixed rigidly to opposed sides of the tray element, said strips having their tops joined together and thus presenting a top central part, a limp cord-like element fixed to the top central part with means presenting a finger grip at the distal end thereof, said strips having a vertical height greater than the maximum dimension of the usable top portion of the tray element.

ALAN A. ROBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 100,397 Straus July 14, 1936 1,604,177 Laughlin 1 Oct. 26, 1926 1,781,357 Wolcott NOV. 11, 1930 1,795,672 Plummer Mar. 10, 1931 1,952,466 Sjodin et al Mar. 27, 1934 1,972,519 Hasenour Sept. 4, 1934 2,001,438 Stuck May 14, 1935 2,014,745 Regli Sept. 17,1935 2,191,837 Thomas Feb. 27, 1940 2,194,024 Kuhn July 14, 1940 2,365,914 Stigler Dec. 26, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 241,488 Great Britain Oct. 22, 1925 21,967 Denmark Mar. 21, 1930

Images