US3227283A

US3227283A - Lazy susan dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3227283A
Application number: US352512A
Authority: US
Inventors: Einar G Ahlman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-03-17
Filing date: 1964-03-17
Publication date: 1966-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-04

Description

Jan. 4, 1966 E. G. AHLMAN LAZY SUSAN DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 17, 1964 Einar 6. All/man INVENTOR.

Jan. 4, 1966 Filed March 17, 1964 E. G. AHLMAN LAZY SUSAN DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Einar 6. Ah/man INVENTOR United States Patent() 3,227,283 LAZY SUSAN DISPENSER lEinahG. Ahlman, Box 16, Rte. 307, Austinburg, Ohio :EiledMar. 17, 19.64, Set-No. 352,512.

. 8 Claims. .(Cl. 21-1-69) This invention relates to a novel and useful Lazy ,Susanand more specifically to an apparatus of the Lazy .Susan iype designed; primarily for use ona desk and to support numerous types of writing equipment and accessories. However,.it.is.to be noted that the Lazy Susan of theinstant invention could also be utilizedto advantage in other envir nments and for supporting numerous other iypesof articles.

The-Lazy Susanpf the instant invention includes a base towhichthe lowerend of an upstanding post is secured. turntable is rotatablymounted on the post with a thrust .bearingdisposed betweenthe lower end of a turntable. and .the base. The turntable-includes numerous tray-like compartrrientsthat are disposed circumferentially thereabout in two vertically spaced sets of compartments and also \variousothertypes of circumferentially spacedcompart- -.me.uts.

Themain objectof this invention isito provide an appae .ratus of theLazy Susan type adapted for use in various ,environments'wherein it is advantageous to have .a plu- .rality of readily accessible compartments for storing a ,pluralitypfdilferent kinds of articles.

- Another object of this invention is to provid-ea Lazy Susan in accordance withthe preceding object which is specifically adapted 10 support writing equipment and accessories such as those found about i a desk.

Another object of this invention is to provide a Lazy Sus'an jthathas a pleasing appearance. a

with-the preceding objects which will conform to conventiorial forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to'use so as .to provide a device that will .be economically *feasible, long-lasting and relativelytroublefree in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages .which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and'operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective viewof the Lazy Susanof the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an'enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the center of the Lazy Susan; and V FIGURES 3 and 4 arehorizontizlsectional views taken substantially upon the planes indicated by the section lines 3-3 and 44, respectively, of FIGURE 2.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the Lazy Susan of the instant invention. The Lazy Susan lil includes a generally circular base 12 to which the lower end of an upright post 14 is secured. A turntable generally referred to by the reference numeral 16 is provided and includes a conical core 18 having an upstanding bore 20 formed therethrough which snugly receives the post 14 thereby rotatably mounting the turntable 16 on the post 14. In addition, it may be seen that a thrust bearing 22 including an upper race 24 and a lower race 26 separated by means of a plurality of anti-friction balls 28 is provided and disposed about the post 14 between the lower end of the core 18 in the base 12.

The turntable 16 includes an outer sleeve portion 30 i 3,227,283 Patented Jan. 4, 1966 whose lower end is secured to and supportedfrom a plurality of generally radially outwardly projecting upstanding partition members 32 spaced circumferentially about the lowerend of the core 18. Thelower end of the core ,18 includes an outwardly projecting and generally annular flange 34 including portions extending beneath the lower end of the sleeve portion in vertically spaced relation thereto and projecting outwardly beyond the outer surfaces of the sleeve portion 30. From FIGURES .1 and 2 of thedrawings it may be seen that the flange 34 curves outwardly and upwardly at its outer marginal portions andthat the partition members 32 divide the tray formed by the flange 34 into a plurality of tray segments, each defining a storage area in communication with the area .disposedbetween the core 18,and the sleeve portion 3.0 disposed thereabove.

.From FIGUREZof the drawings itmay be seen that .the sleeve portion 30 includes a second outwardly projecting and generally annular flange 36 which is subteh partition members 32 and have the lower end of an outer sleeve member 40 secured thereto for support therefrom. The ,outer sleeve member .40 is similar to the sleeve portion 30 and it may be seen from FIGURE ,2 of the drawings that a top closure wall .42 which is centrally apertured as at 4.4 is provided and is secured to the upper endbf the post 14 which is. externally threaded as at 46 by means of a knob 43 having a threaded blindbore 50 formed-therein. The-knob .48 is threadedly engaged on the externallythreaded portion 46 ofthe post 14 and an anti-friction washer 52 -is disposed between the confronting surfaces of the knob 48 and the closure ,wall ,42.

The second annular outwardly projecting flange 3.6 has a plurality of small openings 54 formed in portions thereof and the portions of the closure wall 42 disposed above the openings 54 are provided with openings 56 in alignment with .the .openings 54. The openings 56 are eachlarger in diameter than the openings 54 and the latter are adapted to receive the pointed ends 58 of pencils 60 passed downwardly through the opening ,56 formed in the closure Wall 42. Each of the segments formed between adjacent walls of the partition members 32 and34 isin communication with the storage area disposed immediately thereabove defined by the corresponding sleeve portion 30 orsleeve member '40 and may be utilized to support various types of articles.

From FIGURE 2 of the drawings it will be noted that;the outer sleeve .member 4% includes extended portions 62 which project down into each tray segment having the openings 54 formed therein. In this manner, a closed compartment 64 is formed above each apertured tray segment.

In operation, the pencils 60 may be supported in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings together with pens and other similar articles while various other types of writing equipment and accessories may be supported from the plurality of tray segments defined by the flanges 34 and 36.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A Lazy Susan comprising a base, an upstanding turntable means rotatably mounted on said base, thrust bearing means disposed between said base and the lower end of said turntable means, said turntable means ineluding an upstanding center core and an outer sleeve portion disposed about said core and defining a vertically elongated annular storage area between said core and said sleeve portion, a plurality of generally radially extending and upstanding partition members secured between said core and sleeve portion at points spaced circumferentially about said storage area and dividing the latter into a plurality of segments, said sleeve portion terminating at its lower end above the portions of said base disposed therebeneath, said core including an outwardly projecting generally annular flange including portions extending beneath the lower end of said sleeve portion in vertically spaced relation thereto and projecting outwardly beyond the outer surfaces of said sleeve portion.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein at least some of said segments are provided with closure walls at their upper ends extending between said core and the corresponding portions of said sleeve portion and between corresponding partition members of said Lazy Susan.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said generally annular flange curves upwardly and outwardly at its outer marginal portions.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein an outer sleeve member is disposed about said sleeve portion and defines a second vertically elongated annular storage area between said sleeve portion and said sleeve member, a plurality of generally radially extending partition members secured between said sleeve portion and said sleeve member at points spaced cireumferentially about said second storage area and dividing the latter into a plurality of compartments, said sleeve portion including a second generally annular outwardly projecting flange including portions extending beneath the lower end of said sleeve member in vertically spaced relation to the latter and projecting outwardly beyond the outer surfaces of said sleeve member.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said second annular flange curves upwardly and outwardly at its outer marginal portions.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein an outer sleeve member is disposed about said sleeve portion and defines a second vertically elongated annular storage area between said sleeve portion and said sleeve member, a plurality of generally radially extending partition members secured between said sleeve portion and said sleeve member at points spaced circumferentially about said second storage area and dividing the latter into a plurality of compartments, said sleeve portion including a second genmember in vertically spaced relation to the latter and projecting outwardly beyond the outer surfaces of'said sleeve member, at least some of said compartments being provide-d with closure walls at their upper ends extending between said sleeve portion and said sleeve member and partition members.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein an outer sleeve member is disposed about said sleeve portion and defines a second vertically elongated annular storage area between said sleeve portion and said sleeve member, a plurality of generally radially extending partition members secured between said sleeve portion and said sleexe member at points spaced circumferentially about said second storage area and dividing the latter into a' plurality of compartments, said sleeve portion including a second generally annular outwardly projecting flange ineluding portions extending beneath the lower'end of said sleeve member in vertically spaced relation to the latter and projecting outwardly beyond the outer surfaces of said sleeve member, at least some of said compartments being provided with closure walls at their upper ends extending between said sleeve portion and said sleeve member and partition members, said second annular flange curving upwardly and outwardly at its outer marginal portions.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein an outer sleeve member is disposed about said sleeve portion and defines a second vertically elongated annular storage area between said sleeve portion and said sleeve member, a plurality of generally radially extending partition members secured between said sleeve portion and said sleeve member at points spaced circumferentially about said second storage area and dividing the latter into a plurality of compartments, said sleeve portion including a second generally annular outwardly projecting flange including portions extending beneath the lower end of said sleeve member in vertically spaced relation to the latter and projecting outwardly beyond the outer surf-aces of said sleeve member, at least some of said compartments being provided with closure walls at their upper ends extending between said sleeve portion and said sleeve member and partition members, at least some portions of said second flange having openings formed therein adapted to receive the pointed ends of pencils, the last-mentioned closure walls including some portions having openings formed therein in alignment with the first-mentioned openings.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,221,796 4/1917 Egbert 312-252 2,473,026 6/1949 Heath 21 160 2,749,198 6/1956 Berber 312- 252 3,135,389 6/1964 Farley 21l37 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. K. J. WINGERT, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A LAZY SUSAN COMPRISING A BASE, AN UPSTANDING TURNTABLE MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, THRUST BEARING MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID BASE AND THE LOWER END OF SAID TURNTABLE MEANS, SAID TURNTABLE MEANS INCLUDING AN UPSTANDING CENTER CORE AND AN OUTER SLEEVE PORTION DISPOSED ABOUT SAID CORE AND DEFINING A VERTICALLY ELONGATED ANNULAR STORAGE AREA BETWEEN SAID CORE AND SAID SLEEVE PORTION, A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY RADIALLY EXTENDING AND UPSTANDING PARTITION MEMBERS SECURED BETWEEN SAID CORE AND SLEEVE PORTION AT POINTS SPACES CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT SAID STORAGE AREA AND DIVIDING THE LATTER INTO A PLURALITY OF SEGMENTS, SAID SLEEVE PORTION TERMINATING AT ITS LOWER END ABOVE THE PORTIONS OF SAID BASE DISPOSED THEREBENEATH, SAID CORE INCLUDING AN OUTWARDLY PROJECTING GENERALLY ANNULAR FLANGE INCLUDING PORTIONS EXTENDING BENEATH THE LOWER END OF SAID SLEEVE PORTION IN VERTICALLY SPACED RELATION THERETO AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE OUTER SURFACES OF SAID SLEEVE PORTION.