US2679446A - Carrier with swivel arrangement - Google Patents

Description

May 25, 1954 R. F. WEIL CARRIER WITH SWIVEL ARRANGEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 10, 1947 a F m I Z i l), W 4 w 4/, W x7 L i I. 1 Wm;

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- w/Mz/ f. IMF/A BY a y 1954 R. F. WElL CARRIER WITH SWIVEL ARRANGEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 10, 1947 y 1954 R. F. WElL CARRIER WITH SWIVEL ARRANGEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Am .2 42? 1|. w /Z7 A?! Filed Sept. 10, 19 47 Patented May 25, 1954 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE Application September 10, 1947, Serial No. 773,113 In Switzerland January 4, 1946 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires January 4, 1966 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in holding or carrying devices for articles and the like and is more particularly concerned with devices by which articles, containers, implements, etc, may be swivelledly carried or from which such articles may be pivotally suspended.

It is one of the main advantages of the invention to provide means facilitating on the one hand convenient accessibility to articles and like objects and on the other hand concealment and storage of such articles in a very economical manner, in orderly fashion and within a relatively small and limited space.

It is another advantage of the invention to provide means rendering possible the arrangement of relatively large and small articles on one and the same device without causing any interference with each other during movements thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means ensuring perfect balance of said articles during movements thereof and regardless of the number of articles carried by said device.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the provision of means eifectuating automatic closure of containers, receptacles and the like, when the same are moved in inoperative or retarded position for storage and ready and instantaneous access to such containers with closure removed or withdrawn therefrom, when the above device is in operative position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means enabling even relatively short persons to operate the device so as to be easily in reach of articles and the like carried by said device althoughsuch articles may be swung away and stored during non-use at a distant location within a chamber, such as a refrigerator, closet, etc.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means contributing to a relatively low location of the center of gravity of articles or receptacles, which may contain liquid or granular substances and thus effectively avoiding spilling and loss of such liquid or like substances during movements from operative to inoperative positions and vice versa.

The invention is generally applicable to furniture pieces, vehicular bodies, refrigerators and similar appliances, and to other fields of industry. More specifically, the invention contem plates the provision of a device of the aforesaid character which may be easily and inexpensively manufactured, is very practical and efficient in use and of such simple construction that it may be quickly attached to or built in in existing refrigerators, cabinets and like boxes, if desired.

With these objects in View, the invention consists in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination and" arrangement of parts by which the aforesaid and several other objects, hereinafter set forth, are effected, all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a cabinet in open condition, shown partly in section according to line l*! of Fig. 2 and embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the cabinet of Fig. 2 in closed condition;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4. of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 shows a cabinet with a carrier embodying the invention" in modified form and in open condition;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 shows in perspective a cabinet with a carrier in a further modified form, a part of the wall of the cabinet being broken away to show the interior thereof;

Fig. 8 illustrates a front-elevational view of a housing, partly in open and partly in closed condition and shows carrier means made in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along line 9& of Fig. 8 with one'of the carriers swung into operative position;

Fig. 10 illustrates a refrigerator, in perspective, having incorporated a carrier made in accordance with this invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a cabinet ill with a swingable wall or support 2| in open condition. Cabinet 29 is of substantially rectangular shape and has the top wall 22, side walls 23 and 24', rear wall 25 and bottom wall 26. Swingable front wall 2! is hinged at 27, 26 and 29 to bottom wall 26 of the cabinet-20'.

Affixed to the inner face 2la of the swingable front wall 2| are two upright support means or lugs 30 and 3! provided with bearings 32, 34, 35 in which the axles 36 and 3'1 of holder means 333 and 39 are journalled. Holder 38' as well as holder 39 are provided with suitable openings 38wand 39a which,-respectivel'y, engage containers and 41 having an upper, flangelike rim Amalia, respectively, by which the con- 3 tainers 40 and 4| are retained within the openings 38a and 39a, respectively.

The containers 40, 4| are spaced from the inner face 2Ia of the swingable front wall 2| for a purpose later apparent. It is well understood that the axles 36 and the bearings 32, 35 as well as the axles 3! and the bearings 33, 34 are recessed with respect to the top edge 30a, cm. respectively of the lugs 30, 3|, as will be apparent from the further description.

Further aflixed to lug 30 and on the outside thereof is a cam-shaped member 42 whose curved upper surface 43 slidably engages a follower member 44 which is hinged at 45 within the interior of cabinet 20 and adjacent the rear wall thereof.

Between pivot 45 and follower 44 extends a cover plate 46 which is movable together with the follower 44 about said pivot 45. Follower 44 is further linked at 4'! to a cover plate 48 by means of a rod 49 articulated at 50 to a lug member forming an integral part of upper cover plate 48 which, in turn, is swingable about pivots 52 which are, respectively, positioned on the inner face of the side walls 23 and 24, respectively. Pivots 52 are substantially positioned above and spaced from pivots 45, as may be realized from Fig. 2.

The positioning of the lower cover plate 46 and of the upper cover plate 48 with respect to their lugs 5|a and 5| and their pivot points 45 and 52 is clearly apparent from Fig. 4, showing the front wall or door 2| in closed position.

As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the swinging movement in the direction of arrow A of the front door 2| provided with an operating handle 2Ia and supporting the carriers 38 and 39 permits these carriers to pivot together with the containers 40 and 4| about axles or trunnions 36, 37 (indicated in dot-dash lines in Fig. 2) until these containers 40 and 4| are received within the interior of the cabinet (Fig. 3) in which the rearward row of containers 40 comes to lie below the forward row of containers 4| (Fig. 3). This transfer of position of the container rows 40, 4| which are substantially maintained in vertical position, is attained due to the fact that the locations of the center of gravity of the containers are substantially below the axes of the trunnions of the carriers.

It will be noticed from Figs. 2 and 3 that upon further movement of the front door 2I in the direction of arrow B the lower face 44a of follower 44 will be in contact with and guided along upper face 43 of the cam-shaped member 42, whereby the upper ends of the containers 40 and 4| will automatically be brought into engagement with the underfaces 46a and 48a of the cover plates or lids 46 and 48 which are interconnected with each other by rod 49, as hereinabove set forth.

It is to be mentioned that the engaging surfaces 44a and 43, respectively, of the follower 44 and of the cam 42 are of such configuration and length that when the swingable front door 2| is being moved in the direction of arrow B, the weight of the holders and containers will automatically urge said door into closing engagement with the open cabinet or housing 20.

In order to limit the swinging movement of door 2|, there is disposed at the inner face of side wall 23 a hook-shaped stop member 53 which in open position of the cabinet 20 engages with a hook-shaped element 54 carried by and fixed to the cam-shaped member 42. As seen in Fig. 2, the hinges which swingably connect the front door 2| with the cabinet proper may be affixed, in-

4 stead of to the bottom plate 26, to ledge 55 extending along the bottom plate 26 of the cabinet 20.

Fig. 5 illustrates a part of a refrigerator shown in perspective in which a closable cabinet section 6| is provided. This cabinet section has a swingable front door 62 on whose inner face 63 there are positioned lugs 64 and 65 which are provided with suitable bearings 66 and 61.

Inserted in bearing 61 is a trunnion 68 forming an integral part of a dual container structure 10, whereas the opposite trunnion 69 of the container is engaged in an open, hook-shaped bearing 66 and for removal therefrom. swingable front wall 62 has a handle II and is swingably connected by means of hinge members 12 and I3 with the bottom wall 14 of the cabinet section 6|. The center of gravity of the dual container I0 having the compartments I5 and I6, is located substantially between the horizontal axis of the trunnions 68 and 69 and the bottom H of the container 10 which is so spaced from the inner face 63 of the support or front door 62 that the container I0 may freely swing about its trunnions 66 and 69 within the bearings 61 and 66, whereby in particular in closed condition of the cabinet 6| container I0 will always be maintained in its upright or vertical position. As clearly indicated in Fig. 6 door 60a of the refrigerator 60 in closed position is spacedly disposed from the closed swingable front door 62 of the cabinet section 6|.

It will be realized that function and positioning of the container I0 with respect to its support 626465 are substantially the same as hereinabove described with respect to the containers of Figs. 1 to 4, with the exception that no cover plates or lids have been shown in connection with the cabinet section 6| of Fig. 5.

It is well understood, that upon opening of the refrigerator door 60a and if subsequently front door 62 is swung open, the container 10 will immediately become accessible to a person standing in front of the refrigerator.

Fig. 7 shows a further application of the invention to a portable cabinet which has a hinged front lid or support 8| on whose inside there are fixed two mountings 82, 83 terminating into eyes 34, 85 for receiving therein the trunnions 86, 81 of a carrier 88 made preferably from wire material and including a plurality of wire frames 89 forming holders for receptacles 90 placed within said wire frames 89. On the bottom 9| of cabinet 80 there may be placed bottles 92 so that upon opening of front wall 8| about hinges 93, 94, the receptacles 90 will be brought automatically to the forward part of the open cabinet and into ready position for use, while in closed position of the cabinet 80 the containers 90 substantially extend above the bottles 92 and thus fill the space of the cabinet in a very economical and practical manner.

Figs. 8 and 9 show the invention as applied to a rotatable frame structure I 00 which is mounted on a turn table IOI and housed within casing I02. Turn table IIlI is provided with a pivot I03 upwardly extending from base I04 within housing I02. Housing or casing I02 has a front opening I05 which may be closed by a slidable door I06 having an operating handle I07. Fig. 9 shows the casing I02 with the door I06 in open position and one of the frame sections I08 in operative position, whereas the remaining frame sections I09, I I0, III are shown substantially in rectangular and inoperative position with respect to each other. Frame section I 08 is shown I: in such inoperative position in Fig. 8 and consists substantially of a U-shaped wire support H2.

Wiresupport H2 is provided with eyes H3, H4 which engage upri ht mountings H5, H6, respectively, so as to swing thereabout into a substantially horizontal position, as indicated in Fig. 9. Further provided on legs II I, H8 of the U- shaped wire frame H2 are carrier bearings in form of eyes II9I2I3, I2Ii22, I23-I24 with which pivotally engage carriers I25, I26 and I21, respectively and in a manner as hereinabove referred to with respect to carrier 88 of Fig. '7.

In this particular instance, carriers I25, I26, I21 have associated therewith a plurality of container holders I25a, IZBa, IZ'ta which are adapted to hold and. to carry, for instance bottles I28, I 29 of varyin sizes so that if the casing IE2 is fully opened by further sliding door me into open position (Fig. 9), frame section I08 can be swung outwardly so that upper carrier IZ'I comes to lie in foremost position, whereas lower carrier I25 will be placed rearwardly of the central carrier i253 and carrier I21.

in orderly fashion and without removing any other articles from the frame section. II; is well apparent that fram section I08 may be swung about hinge or pivot HB-I I and H4-I it into upright position, as seen in Fig. 8, in which the frame sections Ital, I iii, II I may be connected together and maintained in this position by any appropriate means, such as hooks or other fastening means.

If it i now desired to obtain access to frame section E I I, all that is to be done is to rotate the turn table IQI to a position in which said frame section HI registers with the opening I85 of the casing I62.

Upon withdrawal of the door I06 by sliding the same in a direction of arrow C, frame section III may be swung from its upright position into horizontal position in a way similar to that seen in Fig. 9 and exemplified with respect to section The cabinet I82 may be employed for various purposes and in various professions, such as by dentists, physicians, etc.

As will be realized from Fig. 8, the container holding devices I 26a and IZIa etc. are so position-ed with respect to the respective carriers that the containers received in these holders will always be maintained in substantially upright position, since the center of gravity of such assembled structure will be positioned below the axis and swivel points of the respective carriers I251), I281), I211).

Fig. shows a refrigerator I30 in perspective and with its front door IS! in open position. On the inner face I32 of door I3I is pivotally mounted at I33-I3 l a wire frame I35 terminating in crank-shaped ends I36, I31 which engages eyes I38, I39 fixed in any appropriate manner to the lower part I32a of door I3I. It will be readily apparent that wire frame I35 may be swung in upright position indicated by dot-dash lines and retained in this position by a suitable clip Hi9 fixed to the upper portion I321) of door I3I. Swivelled on U-shaped frame I 35 is a plurality of carriers MI, I42, I 43 etc. which, in this particular instance, include container unit I 44 of such shape and formation that eggs I 35 may be received in and carried by said containers I44.

Carriers HiI, Hi2, Hi3 etc. are held on frame I3'5 in suitable bearings 56, I51, I48 so that these Thus, ready access to bottles I28, I29 may be had which are presented carriers may readily follow and swivel in their bearings to follow swinging movements (from horizontal to upright position and vice versa) ofv frame I35 while the eggs I flS-Will alway remain in upright position within their carriers and containers I44. Thus, an egg rack is achieved which may be easily mounted on any receptacle or housing, (such as a suitable refrigerator) requiring a minimum of space, being efficient and safe inoperation and presenting the respective goods in a tidy and practical manner.

As can be seen from the foregoing disclosure, there has been provided in accordance with this invention an effective swivel arrangement which includes carrier means maintaining goodsor con tainers retained thereon in perfectly balanced position so that no displacement of goods or containers may be had, even if such carrier means will perform swinging movements.

Thus, the construction according to the present invention comprises principally a frame, holder means arranged for pivotal movement on said frame, pivot means connecting said holder means with said frame, and container means for accommodation in said holder means, the center of gravity of said container means being positioned below said pivot means, whereby the vertical position of said container means will be substantially maintained during movement of said holder means relatively to said frame.

As many possible embodiments of the above invention may be made, and as many changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters hereinbefore disclosed or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

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

1. In a cabinet and like housing; a door arranged for swinging movement on said cabinet, support means connected to said door, holder means for retaining container means and provided with pivot means for swivelly mounting said holder means on said support means, whereby the center of gravity of said container means when received in said holder means is positioned below said pivot means so that said container means will maintain a substantially upright position during movement of said door relative to the remainder of said cabinet, cover means adapted for disposition on the top of said container means for closing the same, said cover means being hingedly disposed for swinging movement in the interior of said cabinet, follower means connected to and disposed laterally of said cover means, and cam means connected to said support means and disposed in the path of said follower means, whereby said cover means are brought into closing contact with said container means during swinging movement of said door from open position substantially at right angles to said cabinet to substantially upright closed position.

2. In a cabinet and like housing; a door arranged for swinging movement on said cabinet, support means connected to said door and adapted to carry container means, holder means for swivelly retaining said container means on said support means, the center of gravity of said container means when received in said holder means being positioned below said pivot means, so that said container means will always maintain a subtantially upright position during movement of said door relative to said cabinet, cover means for said container means and adapted for disposition on the top of said container means for closing the same, said cover means being hingedly disposed for swinging movement in the interior of said cabinet, follower means connected to said cover means, and. cam means connected to said support means, said follower means and said cam means being adapted to engage each other and to thereby operatively connect said door with said cover means and to regulate during the swinging movement of said door the movement of said cover means with respect to said container means for closing and opening the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 15 Number Name Date Simonson May 10, 1870 Herman July 17, 1883 Shanklin et a1. Apr. 21, 1903 Woodcock Jan. 19, 1909 Turchin Oct. 29, 1918 Stubbs Feb. 21, 1933 Wheeler June 29, 1948 Minor Dec. 6, 1949 Sutton Feb. 20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Austria Oct. 10, 1922 Great Britain Feb. 23, 1945

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