US2967081A

US2967081A - Article-storing closet

Info

Publication number: US2967081A
Application number: US684943A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kleinpenning Johannu Leonardus
Original assignee: US Philips Corp
Current assignee: Philips North America LLC; US Philips Corp
Priority date: 1956-09-24
Filing date: 1957-09-19
Publication date: 1961-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 1978-01-03

Description

Jan. 3, 1961 J. L. KLEINPENNING 2,967,081

ARTICLE-STORING cLosET Filed sept. 19, 1957 s sheets-sheet 1 FIGA [Alwin/,0R

JoHANNu LEoNARDUs ELEINPENNLNG By Z AG NT FIGS Jan. 3, `1961 J. L. KLEINPENNING 2,967,081 ARTICLE-MORIN@ cLosm' Filed Sept. 19, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet '2 INVENTOR JOHANNUS LEONA RDUS KLEINPENNING BY M f6: L#

AGE

Jan. 3, 1961 J. L. KLEINPENNING 2,967,081

ARTIcLE-sToRING cLosET 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 19', 1957 FIGS FIG

'10 lNvl-:NTOR F @.8

JOHANNUS LEoNARous KLEINPENNING BY l 2 AGENT United States Patentn ARTICLE-STORING CLOSET Johannus Leonardus Kleinpeuning, Eindhoven, Netherlands, assigner to North American Philips Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 19, 19157, Ser. No. 684,943

Claims priority, application Netherlands Sept. 24, 1956 4 Claims. (Cl. S12-268) The invention relates to an article storing closet, for example for clothes, which closet has a wall with an opening through which the goods to be stowed away can be supplied to a transport device provided in the space and having a plurality of storing positions. Such closests may be used as wardrobes or as luggage stores. Usually such goods are collected by an employee and stowed away. Particularly in the case of a rush of visitors in the cloakrooms of theatres and cinemas, for example, the storing and the delivery of the goods can take much time.

The invention has for its object to obviate this disadvantage.

In accordance with the invention the closet is provided with a contact bank having a plurality of contacts which correspond to the number of storing positions of the transport device, while a plurality of selecting elements can co-operate with this contact bank in a manner such that during the co-operation of the contact bank with a selector, the position corresponding to this selector lies before the opening and during the failing of this co-operation a further, uncharged position is moved before the opening.

It should be noted that a storing device is known, which has a cycling transport chain which is controlled in a manner such that always a safety lamp is located before the opening. When a lamp is removed a further safety lamp is automatically moved before the opening.

When a loaded position moves away from the opening, the transport device can move in a direction opposite the direction in which it is moved with an unloaded position before the opening. For structural reasons it is, however, as a rule desirable for the transport device to move only in one direction.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, always the same position of the transport device is located before the opening in the wall, as long as a selector does not co-operate with the contactbank, while due to the cooperation of the contact bank with a selector, the position corresponding to the selector is moved before the opening and moved back into the initial position, when the co-operation ceases.

As a matter of course, the contact device may be constructed in various ways. A simple solution is obtained in accordance with one aspect of the invention by providing the contact bank with a contact which is the same for all selectors and with a plurality of contacts, each of which can correspond only to one associated selector, while provision is furthermore made of means, for example a lug or a recess, to x the position of the selector in the contact bank. l

Particularly if the closet is used as a storage space for a wardrobe, measures must be taken to prevent theft of clothes. According to a further aspect of the invention the transport device comprises, to this end, means by which the clothes to be transported are carried and y .2,967,081 Patented dan. 3, 1961 which are fastened to the transport device so as to 'be movable in a vertical sense and which are moved by the weight ofthe goods to be transported to a different distance from the transport device than in the unloaded state, provision being furthermore made of a safety device for at least part of the track of the transport device with the except of a section near the opening in the wall, so that a movement of the means at the area of the safety edvice in a vertical sense actuates an alarm device.

According to a further aspect ofv the invention the means carrying the goods consist of a peg Which is secured to the transport device so as to be resiliently movable in a vertical sense, this peg having an extension which, when the peg moves up or down, contacts locally with a contact strip associated with the safety device and located at the side of the track, so that an alarm device is actuated.

The invention will be described more fully with reference to an embodiment which is shown only diagrammatically. l

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a cabinet for storing clothes.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line Il--ll of Fig. l and Fig. 3 is a front view of the cabinet.

Fig. 4 shows a circuit diagram, the transport device with the pegs occupying one position.

Fig. 5 shows the transport device, while the-pegs occupy a different position.

Fig. 6 shows an unloaded peg in a side view, with thecircuit diagram associated with this peg and Fig. 7 shows acontact part of the peg, where it is loaded.

Fig. 8' isa plan view of the peg and Figs. 9 and l0 show two selecting elements.

The device shown in Figs. 1 and 3 comprises a structural part 1, which is surrounded by a wooden cabinet 2, which has an opening 3 on the front side (Fig. 3). The device comprises an endless chain 4, which is adapted to circulate across two toothed wheels 5 and 6. The toothed Vwheel S is driven via a wormwheel 7, a pulley 8, a driving belt 9 and a pulley "10 by an electric motor 11 To the chain 4 are secured a plurality of pegs 12, of which one is shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 6. lThe pegs have supporting rollers 13, by means of which they can move between rails 14, so that the weight of the goods hanging on the pegs can be supported by the rails; these rails need not extend to the front side, since at this area the toothed wheel 6 supports the weight.

On the front side the cabinet has an opening '15, behind which the contact bank shown in Fig. 4 is'provided; a selector, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, can be introduced therein. Thus the device is actuated, as will be described hereinafter.

The operation of the device will be described more fully also with reference to Figs. 4 and 5. These figures show diagrammatically the endless chain 4 with pegs 1252, 12b and so on; at a point 121 no peg is provided. This chain has a groundconnection 16 and a sliding contact 17, which, when the chain moves, co'mes into contact with

contacts

1811, 1811, 13, 1811, 18e, 181, 18g,`1811, 181, 185, 18k, 181, which are secured to the structural part. The

contacts

18a, 181, 18, 18d, 18e, 181, 18g, 1811, 181, 181, 181;, 181 are coupled by means of electrical conductors 19D-, 191, 19c aud so o-n to 191 with contact arms 20a, 2411', 2li and so on to 201. Each of these contact arms 26a, Zth, 26C and so on co-operates with a contact varm 21a, 21h, 21c and so on respectively, which are connected via electric conductors 22a, 221, 22c and so on to a conductor 23.

The connections formed by the contact arms 2821, 21a, T201, 211 to the contact arms 2011, 211i are such that in normal conditions the connections are interrupted, whereas '-the

contact arms

201, 211 are such that in normal condi- 'tions the connections are complete. The

contacts

20a, 21a, 201, 211 and so on to 201, 211 constitute the contact bank, which is arranged behind the opening of the cabinet. To the conductor 23 is connected a conductor 224, which includes a coil and is connected to ground via a transformer 26. The coil 25 is adapted to actuate la switch 27, of conventional construction, by means of which the rnotor 11 can be connected to the electric mains 28.

The selectors shown in Figs. 9 and l0 have a nonfcircular hole 29, which corresponds to a non-circular l.stud of the contact bank (Fig. 4), and an extension 31, which is located with the two selectors lat the same area Vrelative to the hole 29, while each selector has an extenision 32 (Fig. 9) or 33 (Fig. 1G), which is located at a different area relative to the hole 29 for each element.

The device operates as follows. If the contact bank :has no selector, the endless chain occupies the position shown in Fig. 5, so that the position 121, which has no peg, is located before the opening 3 of the cabinet. All Icontacts formed by the Contact elements 20a, 21a to 20k, 211i are opened, whereas the

contact

201, 211 is closed. Thus the conductor 191 is co-nnected to ground via the contact 181, the sliding Contact 121 and the conductor 16,

while the conductor 23 is also connected to ground via the conductor 24 and the transformer 26. The co-il 25 is thus energized and the switch is open.

When a selector is introduced through the opening 15 into the contact bank, the extension opens the contact formed by the elements 261, 211, while one of the contacts formed by the elements 25a, 21a to 2011, 21k is closed, in the case shown the conta-ct 2011, 21d. Since the sliding contact 17 is located at the area of the contact 181, no ground connection exists, so that the coil 25 is not energized. Thus the switch 27 will be closed and the motor 11 will be connected to the mains, so that it starts running. The motor 11 drives the toother wheel 5 via the pulleys 10 and 8, the belt 9 and the wormwheel 7, so that the chain 4 circulates. The chain lmoves until the sliding contact 17 touches the contact 1811 (Fig. 4), so that a ground connection is established via the conductor 16. In this case the coil 25 is re-energized, so that the switch 27 is opened and the motor 11 stops. Before the opening 15 is then located the peg 1211, on which may be hung clothes to be stored. When then the selector is withdrawn from the contact bank, the

contact

201, 211 is established `and the contact 2011, 21d is opened. The coil 25 is no longer energized, so that the switch 27 is Closed yand the motor drives the chain. When the sliding contact touches the contact 181, a ground connection is re-established and the motor 11 ceases.

The device may therefore be used for storing clothes or luggage. Only the owner oi a selector can move the peg corresponding to his selector before the opening 15, by introducing the selector into the contact bank. In order to prevent the removal of clothes hung on other pegs, when the chain moves along the opening 15, it is desirable to provide a safety device. This device is described with reference to Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

The peg 12, shown in Figs. 6 and 8, has a side arm 34, on which may be hung, for example, a hat; with respect to a housing 35, having a vertical slot 36, this peg is adapted to move up and down. The housing has, on the top side, a Stud 37, by means of which the peg can be secured to the rollers shown in Fig. 2.

Owing to the conductor 16 (Fig. 4) the chain 4 and hence each peg is connected to ground, which is shown in Fig. 6 by the ground-connection 16. The peg has, on its top side, an extension 3S, which is adapted to move up and down in the slot 36, while provision is made of a spring 39, which urges the peg upwards. The spring 39 is so weak that the weight of a hat even sufces to pull the peg down. On the front side of the cabinet, near the aperture 3 and partly on the sides thereof, provision is made of a contact rail 4i), which is interrupted on the front side at the area where the pegs stop over a small distance 41 (Fig. 8). lf the peg is not loaded, the extension 38 moves over the rail 40 and if the peg is loaded, the extension moves below the rail 40, as is shown in Fig. 7.

The rail 40 is, via an electric conductor 41a, in contact with signalling devices, for example a lamp 42 and a buzzer 43, while provision is furthermore made of a connection with the transformer 26, which is connected to ground, as is shown also in Fig. 4. Only when a peg is in the rest position on the front side, can it be drawn down through the opening 41, so that a piece of cloth can be hung on the peg. If a moving peg were used, the extension 38 would come into contact with theV rail 40 during the upward movement, so that the alarm device would become operative. If a piece of cloth were removed frorn a moving peg, the extension 38 would come into contact with the rail 40 during the upward movement, so that also in this case the alarm device would operate. It is possible, as a matter of course, to provide a rail which extends throughout the track of the chain with the exception of one area on the front side, so that even if a piece of cloth falls from a peg a contact is established.

What is claimed is:

'1. A clothes-storing closet comprising a front wall with an opening therein through which the clothes to be stored are deposited, an endless conveyor device in said closet having a plurality of supports in spaced positions along said conveyor, a contact bank having a plurality of electrical contacts, an electrical circuit, each of said contacts adapted to co-act with associated supports, a plurality of selector elements, each corresponding to a particular support whereby when said selector element is placed in engagement with said contact bank an electric circuit is made and the endless conveyor device is rotated until the support corresponding to the selector element thereon arrives at a predetermined location in said closet adjacent to the opening therein, and means causing each support to return to its initial position when the corresponding selector element is removed from engagement with said contact bank.

2. A clothes-storing closet as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said supports includes means for carrying said support for vertical movement, said support being moved vertically solely by the weight of the clothes suspended therefrom, an alarm device operative in any position of said support except in the region ofthe front wall opening whereby predetermined vertical movement in one direction of the support will actuate said alarm device.

3. A clothes-storing closet as claimed in claim 2 wherein said alarm device is provided with a contact strip, and the support is provided with a peg for suspending the clothes, and an extension which upon vertical movement in a predetermined direction engages said contact strip associated with the alarm device to thereby actuate the latter.

4. An article-storing closet comprising a front wall with an opening therein through which articles to be stored are deposited, an endless conveyor device in said closet having a plurality of supports in spaced positions along said conveyor, a contact bank having a plurality of electrical contacts, an electrical circuit, each of said contacts adapted to co-act with associated supports, a plurality of selector elements, said contact bank being provided with a contact which is identical for all selector elements, and a contact on each of said selector elements for xing the position of said selector element in the contact bank, each selector element corresponding to a particular support whereby when said selector element is placed in engagement with said contact bank an electric Circuit is made and the endless conveyor device is ro- 5 tated until the support corresponding to the selector element thereon arrives at a predetermined location in said closet adjacent to the opening therein, and means causing each support to return to its initial position when the corresponding selector element is removed from engagement 5 with said contact bank.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,542,817

Bernhem June 23, 1925 10