US2559361A - Receptacle closure - Google Patents

Description

y 3, 1951 A. L. LANGEL, 2,559,361

RECEPTACLE CLOSURE Filed Aug. 25, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 3, 1951 A. L. LANGEL 2,559,361

RECEPTACLE CLOSURE Filed Aug. 25, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 TIT IN V EN TOR.

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July 3, 1951 LANGEL 2,559,361

RECEPTACLE CLOSURE v Filed Aug. 25, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

Jdmzzl large; B Y lffi m am @41 55/M Patented July 3, 1951 RECEPTACLE CLOSURE Adrien L. Langel, Chicago, 111., assignor to Chicago Metallic Manufacturing Company, Chicage, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 25, 1948, Serial No. 46,071

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a new and improved receptacle closure and more particularly to a manually operable closure for use with ash trays or receivers or similar receptacles.

Closures of this character are used to close the bottoms of shallow, open receptacles having walls sloping inwardly toward the closure, there being a second receptacle chamber below the closure and normally covered thereby. Means are provided associated with the closure member or members whereby manual pressure or movement will open the closure member or members to permit ashes or waste upon the members to drop into the lower chamber. Spring means are provided for returning the closure members to closed position upon release of the opening means. It is desirable that the closure members fully clear the lower edges of the opening in order that the contents of the upper open receptacle may be completely deposited in the lower closed chamber. It is also desirable that the closure be substantially tight in order to smother any fire remaining on partially smoked cigars or cigarettes. Another feature which is desirable is the provision of a construction in which the closure members fit, when in the open position, in a relatively small circumferential area about the opening so that the major portion of the area of the receptacle may function to receive and transmit material placed thereon.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved manually operable closure for receptacles.

It is a further object to provide a construction of this character which fully clears the opening in the receptacle when the operating parts of the closure are in the open position and which fully closes the opening when the parts are in the normal or closed position.

It is also an object to provide a construction in which the closure members are designed so as to occupy a minimum of space adjacent the opening when in the open position.

It is another object to provide a closure mechanism which is simple in design and construction and adapted for commercial production and use.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

I have shown certain preferred embodiments of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of one form of construction with the closure blades or levers in closed position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1 but showing the parts in open position;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken through the construction of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, showing the actuating members of the construction of Figures 1 to 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form of actuating mechanism;

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section of the construction of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the actuating mechanism of the construction of Figures 5 and 6;

Figure 8 is a plan view of a modified form of construction;

Figure 9 is an elevation of the form of construction shown in Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, showing the actuating mechanism of the constructions of Figures 8 and 9.

Referring first to the form of construction shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the device comprises the cone top 2| having the inner conical surface 22 sloping to a circular opening 23. This member 2! is shown as carrying a cigar clip or supporting member 24. The dish-shaped body member 26 has an outturned upper flange 2'! secured to the under face of the circumferential rim of the cone of the top member 2] This body member 26 has an inwardly extending fiat base portion 28 which has a circular opening therein co-extensive with the opening 23 in the cone member 2|. The actuating plate 29 is located below the base 28 of the body member, this plate 29 being circular in plan view and also having an interior circular opening coinciding with the opening 23 in the cone member 2 l.

The three similar levers or closure blades 3i are located above the actuating plate 29 and below the flat base portion 28 of the body member 26. The bottom of the assembly is closed by the cover member 33 which has an upturned flange .34 secured to the lower portion of the outer cylindrical face of the body member 26. This cover 33 also has a circular opening aligned with and co-extensive with the opening 23 in the cone member 2|.

The levers or closure blades 3| are supported on pivots 35 which are secured in the horizontal flat portion 28 of the body member 25. The actuating plate '29 is provided with upturned lugs 31 which fit in notches 38 formed in the outer or tail portions 39 of the levers 3 l.

The horizontal flange portion 28 of the body member also carries the pin Ml upon which is fitted the intermediate portion of the hairpin spring 42. One leg of the spring 42 fits against the upturned lug 43 formed in this portion 28 of the body member 26-. The opposite leg of the spring 42 fits against a lug 45 struck upwardly from the actuating plate 29. Thus, the tendency of the spring 42 is to normally maintain the parts in the position in which they are shown in Figure 1 with the actuating plate 29 at its limit of counter-clockwise movement. This movement is limited by the openings 36 in body portion 23, the lugs 31 passing through these openings, and by opening 44 through which lug 43 passes.

The cam 41 is struck upwardly from the actuating plate 29 and passes upwardly through arcuate opening 49 formed in the horizontal flange 28 of the body 26. The bracket 59 extends inwardly from the vertical wall of the body 26 and supports a sleeve 52 extending upwardly through the conical portion 22 of the cone top 2 I'.

The push rod 54 extends through sleeve 52 and carries the roller 55 at its lower end. This roller rests on the sloping surface of the cam 41. A finger piece 56 is carried by the upper end of the push rod 54.

The operation of this form of the device will be apparent from the description. With the parts in the position shown in Figure 1, a downward pressure on the finger piece 55 forces the push rod 54 downwardly and the roller 55 acts against the cam 41 to move the actuating plate 49 in the clockwise direction. This movement is against the force of the spring 42. During this movement, the lugs 31 coact with the walls of the notches 38 in the levers or blades 3| to rotate those blades in the clockwise direction about their pivots 35 to bring them to the open position, as shown in Figure 2. Upon release of the push button 56, the action of the spring 42 rotates the actuating plate 29 in the counter-clockwise direction and restores the parts to the position in which they are shown in Figures 1 and 3.

It is to be noted that each blade 3i has two arcuate surfaces 59 and 69 contacting with similar surfaces formed on the adjacent blades. The arcuate surface 59 is concave and the arcuate surface Iill is convex so that the three blades engage to completely close the opening 23. In the preferred form of construction, as shown in the drawings, these arcs 59 and 55 are struck on a radius of the same length as the radius of the opening 23 so that when the blades are opened, as shown in Figure '2, the opening 23 is completely cleared by the blades which have a minimum amount of movement because of this curvature. The blades also occupy a minimum area outside of the opening when in the open position.

The form of construction shown in Figures 5 t '7 inclusive is identical with that shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive with the exception of the actuating mechanism. This mechanism is best shown in Figures 6 and '7. The actuating plate ill of this construction has a struck-up arm II with an elongated slot 13 formed therein. The actuating lever 15 is provided with a pivot opening I fitting on a pivot pin 11, which pin is secured to thebody member 18 of this form of construction. This actuating lever I5 has an inturned arm 89 fitting in the slotted opening 13 in the upturned arm II of the actuating plate 10. The bracket 83 is formed from the body member 19 and carries the sleeve 84 into which fits the push rod 85. This push rod 85 is provided, on its lower end, with a rounded actuating button 86 and, on its upper end, with the finger piece 81. The actuating lever I5 is provided, at its upper portion, with a horizontally inturned curved actuating flange 89 which is engaged by the rounded button 86 with the push rod 85. The blades and spring of the construction of Figures 5 to '7 are the same as the construction of Figures 1 to 4, and the same is true of the actuating lugs 31 fitting into the notches 38 in the blades 3|.

In the operation of this form of construction, a downward push on the finger piece 81 causes the button 86 to thrust downwardly on the arcuate portion 89 of lever I5. This swings the lever in the clockwise direction about its pivot, as seen in Figure '7, and the arm 89, through contact with the sides of the slots I3, moves the actuating plate 10 in the clockwise direction to open the blades by means of the lugs 31L Upon release of pressure on the finger piece, the slots return to their normal or closed position.

The form of construction shown in Figures 8 to 10 differs in detail from those previously described, although its main features of operation are similar. The blades 9| are pivoted at 92 in the base member 93. At locations inwardly of the pivot, these blades 9| are provided with slotted openings 94 into which fit pins 95 carried by the rotating actuating plate 91. The actuating plate is held on the base by means of the cover plate 98 which is secured to the base by screws 99. The actuating plate 91 is provided with upwardly extending studs Hill, to each of which is secured one end of a coil tension spring IIII. The opposite ends of these springs are secured to studs I92 which are fixedly secured to the cover plate 98.

The blades in this form of construction are shown as having meeting faces I95 and I96 which are at an angle of to each other so that the three blades unite to cover the entire area of the opening I08 formed in the actuating member and similarly aligned opening I99 formed in the base member.

In this form of construction, the cam member III is shown secured to the actuating member 91 by screws H2. The roller H4 is carried by push rod H5 which extends through bracket H6 and the sleeve II'I carried by the bracket. The top of the push rod H5 carries the finger piece II9. It will be apparent that the springs IUI normally maintain the parts in closed posi tion, as shown in Figure 8. Downward pressure on the finger piece H9 causes the roller II4 to thrust the cam III in the clockwise direction, as shown in Figure 8. This rotates the entire actuating plate 91 in the clockwise direction and causes the pins 95, through contact with the walls of the slots 94, to swing the blades 91 to the open position. Upon release of pressure on the finger piece H9, the blades or levers 9! return to their normal or closed position.

While I have shown certain preferred forms of my invention, these are to be understood to be illustrative only as it is capable of further variation to meet differing conditions and requirements, and I contemplate such modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a receptacle closure, a body member having a circular opening therein, a plurality of uniformly spaced swinging members pivoted adjacent the opening and adapted to close the opening, a circular rotatable member adjacent theswinging members, said circular rotatable member having a circular opening therein aligned: with the opening in the body member, coacting means upon the circular rotatable member and .said circular rotatable member serves to swing the swinging members to closed position and to open position clear of the aligned openings, spring means normally holding the circular rotatable member in position with the swinging members closing the circular opening in the body, a cam carried by the said circular rotatable member, and a vertically movable member carried by the said body member with a fingerpiece above the said body member, the lower end of the vertically movable member engaging the cam whereby downward movement of the vertically movable member acting against the cam serves to rotate the said circular rotatable member to swing the swinging members to open position clear of the circular opening in the body.

2. In a receptacle closure, a body member having a circular opening therein, a plurality of identical swinging members pivoted adjacent the opening in a common plane parallel to the opening, said swinging members each having meeting edges comprising convex and concave portions, the portions meeting at points which points are brought together at the center of the circular body opening when said swinging members are in position to close the circular body opening,

the convex portions of the meeting edges being formed on radii not less than that of the circular opening, whereby the opening may be cleared by a minimum outwardly swinging movement of the swinging members, and means for jointly operating said swinging members.

ADRIEN L. LANGEL.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 436,404 Dallmeyer et al. Sept. 16, 1890 1,049,554 Wooden Jan. '7, 1913 1,243,086 Marks Oct. 16, 1917 1,270,311 Marks June 25, 1918 2,311,568 Parkinson Feb. 16, 1943 2,362,547 Fuerst Nov. 14, 1944 2,380,377 Baylis July 31, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,848 Great Britain 1898 640,025 France Mar. 19, 1928 380,870 Great Britain Sept. 29, 1932

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