US3134264A

US3134264A - Stacked measuring cup

Info

Publication number: US3134264A
Application number: US176731A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dorothy H Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-03-01
Filing date: 1962-03-01
Publication date: 1964-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 1981-05-26

Description

May 26, 1964 D. H. MILLER 3,134,264

STACKED MEASURING CUP Filed March 1, .1962

3/4 cup 2 cu 1 2 cup /3 CUP INVEN TOR. Dorofhy H. miller United States Patent 3,134,264 STACKED MEASURING CUP H. Miller, 2909 W. 73rd, Prairie Village, Kans.

Filed Mar. 1, 1962, Ser. No. 176,731 4 Claims, (Cl. 73-429) This invention relates to measuring cups, and more particularly to a measuring cup having a series of superimposed wall extensions which may be selectively employed or removed to alter the capacity of the cup.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a measuring cup assembly of variable capacity so that accurate measurements of different volumes may be readily made by the user.

Another important object of the invention is to PIOVI ClG in a cup as aforementioned, means for quickly, easily and releasably securing various wall extensions to the cup to effect capacity changes.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a cup having seal means to insure that the cup Wlll not leak at the zone of joinder of the wall extensions to the cup.

A further important object of the invention is to pro vide means for keeping all of the cup components of the assembly together to insure their ready availability, yet permitting shifting of the components not being employed at a particular time to positions which do not interfere with the utilization of the cup, the cup being properly balanced regardless of the amounts of liquids or solids contained therein and irrespective of the number of components used to form the cup.

A still further important object of this invention is to provide a measuring cup which is practical, can be economically manufactured from relatively inexpensive materials, yet is appealing in design and provides a highly attractive kitchen accessory for use by the housewife.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the assembled measuring cup of this invention, parts being broken away and shown in cross section to reveal details of construction;

' FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cup of FIG. 1, parts of the top and uppermost extension being broken away for clearness;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged, exploded, crosssectional view of the upper rim of a cup component and the lower edge of an extension to show the groove and seal for receiving the rim; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the cup showing the disposition of a number of separable extensions when removed from the cup to reduce the capacity thereof.

The measuring cup broadly designated in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a base 12 having a normally upright, tubular side wall 14, and a plurality of

tubular wall extensions

16, 18, 20, 22 and 24. The extensions 1624 are disposed in superimposed relationship on wall 14 to provide increased capacity for cup 10.

The upper edge of wall 14 is provided with an externally threaded rim 26 of reduced dimensions which is complementally received within a groove 28 in the lower most edge of extension 16. A seal 30 in the nature of a thin rubber liner is carried within groove 28 and is engaged by the uppermost edge of rim 26 to positively prevent any leakage of liquids at the zone of joinder of extension 16 and wall 14. To this end, the uppermost edge of rim 26 may be of sharpened configuration as shown in FIG. 3 for biting into seal 30 thereby effecting a positive liquid-tight seal.

Similarly, the uppermost edge of

extensions

16, 18, 20 and 22 are provided with rims identical to rim 26 of wall 14 and are received within grooves in

extensions

18, 20,

Dorothy 3,134,264 Patented May 26., 1964 22 and 24 which are identical to groove 28 of extension 16. Also, seals identical to seal 30 are positioned within each of the respective grooves to effect a liquid-tight seal.

The uppermost extension 24 is preferably provided with an annular bead 32 thereon surrounding the open top thereof. A circular cover 34 is provided to releasably extend in covering relationship over extension 24 when it is desired to close cup 10. A peripherally extending, outwardly directed, scalloped skirt 36 on cover 34, is disposed to frictionally engage bead 32 of extension 24 for releasably maintaining cover 34 in place. A thin sealing gasket 38 on the inner face of cover 34 has a bevelled portion 39 for complementally engaging the bevelled surface 41 on extension 24 adjacent bead 32. Gasket 38 prevents any leakage of fluid from within cup 10 when cover 34 is in place.

It is to be noted that cover 34 may be disposed on base 12 withskirt 36 frictionally engaging side wall 14 when it is desired to have cup 10 uncovered for any period of time.

Each 'rim 26 has a number of circumferentially spaced threads thereon which are unconnected and which are of a relatively large pitch so that the respective extensions can be secured in place by a small amount of rotation of the particular extension with respect to the remainder of theassembled cup 10. Thus, the respective extension may be placed upon the rim of the next lowermost extension or base 12, and then be secured in place by-a short twisting motion. Likewise, the respective extensions may be removed from the assembled cup 10 in order by a simple twisting motion in the opposite direction.

A plate 42 extend-s outwardly from the outer surface of side wall 14 on base 12 and extends in circumscribing relationship around an arcuate portion of base 12. Thus, the normally horizontally disposed plate 42 serves as handle means for cup 10 and, to this end, it may be provided with a roughened surface which may be in the nature of concentric grooves 44 on theupper surface of plate 42 and disposed in positions to be gripped by the thumbs. Alternatively, the upper surface of plate 42 may be provided with any roughened texture to facilitate the antislip properties of plate 42. In addition, side wall 14 and extensions 1624, are provided with circumferentially extending grooves 45 therein on the outer surface thereof for providing antislip means therefor in the vicinity at which cup 10 is to be grasped.

Each extension 1624 has a tab 46 extending outwardly from the outer surface of the respective extension and overlying plate 42. Tabs 46 are provided with outer surfaces which are of pebbly texture to facilitate handling of cup 10 when the fingers of the hand are inserted between adjacent tabs 46 to carry cup 10. It will be noted in FIG. 2 that the tabs 46 are of substantially lesser dimensions than is plate 42 to permit easy access to the end marginal areas of plate 42 if it is desired to carry cup 10 by grasping plate 42. I

Each tab 46 and plate 42 has an elongated aperture 48 therethrough disposed to receive an elongated, articulated member 50 for securing the extensions of cup 10 to base 12. Member 50 is of the nature of a bead chain and passes through the respective apertures 48 and a fastener 51 interconnects the ends of the chain.

The elongated apertures 48 in tabs 46 and plate 42 permit the twisting of the extensions with respect to the base without the necessity of removing member 50. This permits the ready addition to or elimination of one of the extensions 16-24 to the assembled cup 10, while member 50 maintains all of said extensions 1624 interconnected with side wall 14. If, for example, the increment of capacity afforded by extension 24 is not desired during a particular utilization of cup 10, extension 24 may be quickly and easily disassembled from the remainder of cup 10 and shifted to a position along member 50 which will be out of the Way and not hinder the utilization of the assembled cup It) for measuring purposes. In FIG 4, cup 10 is shown with

extensions

22 and 24 removed from the remaining extensions and supported on a surface such as a tabletop. It is noted that

extensions

22 and 24 may be suspended over the hand and out of the way of the remaining extensions and side wall 14 whenthe latter form cup 10.

The respective extensions 1624 are of sufiicient size to add whatever increment of capacity to base 12 which may be desirable as determined by the use to be made of cup 10. It is not contemplated that the extensions 16-24 must be of identical sizes. Rather, the sizes may vary and each extension be provided with suitable indicia 56 so that the volumetric increase of the capacity afforded by the utilization of a particular extension will be readily apparent to the user.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the cup-shaped base 12 holds a convenient A cup, and the succeeding extensions 16-24 are of respective sizes to increase the capacity to /3 cup, /2 cup, cup, cup and one cup respectively. Manifestly, any increments of capacity increase may be suitably chosen and may further be indicated by indicia if desired.

It is contemplated that the components of cup 10 may be formed from readily available material such as plastic or the like, through the utilization of a relatively inexpensive molding process. Cup 10 may be made in highly attractive colors and presents a neat, practical kitchen item desirabie for use by the housewife.

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

1. A measuring cup comprising:

a cup-shaped base having a side wall:

at least one tubular Wall extension;

means including an internally threaded groove in said extension and a threaded rim on the base complementally received in the groove for releasably securing the extension to the side wall for selectively increasing the capacity of the cup, there being a seal in the groove disposed to be engaged by the rim when the extension is secured to the base; and

a member secured to the extension and the base for maintaining the extension within the proximity of the base, said extension being shiftable with respect to the member for permitting relative movement between the base and the extension while secured together by said member.

2. A measuring cup comprising:

a cup-shaped base having an annular, normally upright side wall;

handle means secured to the base, said handle means comprising a generally horizontally disposed plate secured to the outer surface of the side Wall and extending partially around the side wall;

at least one tubular wall extension provided with tab means secured to and extending outwardly from the outer surface of said extension, said tab overlying the plate on the base, the tab being of lesser dimension than the plate for permitting access to the plate to be gripped as a handle, the plate and the tab having an aperture therethrough;

a pliable member passing through the respective apertures for fastening the extension to the base; and groove means on the extension and rim means on the base provided with interlocking, intermittent screw and thread means whereby the extension may be secured or released from the base by slight relative rotation between the base and the extension.

3. A cup as set forth in claim 2, wherein said apertures in the plate and the tab respectively, are elongated to permit relative shifting of the base and the extension with respect to the member when the extension is rotated relative to the member to release the securing means.

4. A cup as set forth in claim 2, wherein the member extends into a closed loop passing through the said apertures and around the plate and tab.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 506,589 Freeman et a1. Oct. 10, 1893 1,927,454 Huxley Sept. 19, 1933 2,042,945 Lemay June 2, 1936 2,787,162 Crane Apr. 2, 1957 2,803,368 Koch Aug. 20, 1957 2,839,928 Fohrman June 24, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 492,481 Great Britain Sept. 21, 1928 1,162,087 France Mar. 31, 1958

Claims

1. A MEASURING CUP COMPRISING: A CUP-SHAPED BASE HAVING A SIDE WALL: AT LEAST ONE TUBULAR WALL EXTENSION; MEANS INCLUDING AN INTERNALLY THREADED GROOVE IN SAID EXTENSION AND A THREADED RIM ON THE BASE COMPLEMENTALLY RECEIVED IN THE GROOVE FOR RELEASABLY SECURING THE EXTENSION TO THE SIDE WALL FOR SELECTIVELY INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF THE CUP, THERE BEING A SEAL IN THE GROOVE DISPOSED TO BE ENGAGED BY THE RIM WHEN THE EXTENSION IS SECURED TO THE BASE; AND A MEMBER SECURED TO THE EXTENSION AND THE BASE FOR MAINTAINING THE EXTENSION WITHIN THE PROXIMITY OF THE BASE, SAID EXTENSION BEING SHIFTABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE MEMBER FOR PERMITTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE BASE AND THE EXTENSION WHILE SECURED TOGETHER BY SAID MEMBER.