US817301A - Tray-support. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED APR. 10, 1906.

P, L. DEMAJRTINI.

TRAY SUPPORT. APPLIUATIOK FILED new; 30.1005.

Quorum;

of a trunk with tray swung open, showing my NTED STATES PATENT 1min.

FRANK L. DEMARTINI, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

TRAY-SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented April 10, 1906.

Application filed October 30,1905- Serial No. 285,136.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. DEMARTINI, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tray- Supports, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in tray-supports for trunks and it consists in the novel construction of support more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the support turned to proper position to support the tray. Fig. 8 is a slmilar view showing the supporting-rods disengaged from the trunk-walls. sectional detail on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. is a perspective of the clip or bearing for the outer end of the supporting-rod. Fig. 6 is a perspective of a wardrobe tray swung to open position and having its supporting-rods received by depressions in the trunk-walls. Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line 7 7 of Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a perspective of the grooved casting for receiving the ends of the supporting-rods.

The object of my invention is to provide suitable means for temporarily supporting a trunk-tray while in an open position, the 1nvention being specially applicable to the swinging tray hinged directly beneath the lid of a trunk, though, as presently to be seen, the device may with equal propriety be applied to any tray which when once opened would. have a tendency to close if left temporarily unsupported while in such open position. The tendency for a hinged tray to close after once being swung open 18 due to the weight of the contents of such tray, the said contents shifting the center of gravity of the load well beyond the hinge-axis of the tray, and .thus tending to close it if left unsupported.

The advantages of my improvement will Fig. 4 is a be better apparent from a detailed description of the invention, which is as follows: Referring to the drawings, B represents the body of the trunk, and L the outer lid thereof. The trunk is provided with a tray T, hinged immediately beneath the lid, and when the lid is swung to an open position the tray may be swung up against it. The weight of the Fig. 5"

tray contents has a tendency to force the tray to a closed position, and if left unsupportedv the tray will close, and thus become a source of annoyance to one desiring access to the bottom of the trunk. The tray is supported by means of the following contrivance: Rotatably secured to the tray-bottom adjacent to the edge thereof is a disk or equivalent' member 1, provided with an operating handle or wing 2, projecting beyond the edge of the disk, the latter having pivotally secured to one of its faces (preferably the outer face) the inner ends of the rods 3 3, the points of connection with the rotatable member being diametrically opposite to one another. By rotating the member 1. in proper diree tion the rods are either forced apart or retracted inwardly, as is obvious. The outer ends of the rods pass through suitable tapering guide-loops 4 of the clips or bearings l, secured to the tray, as shown. After opening the tray the member 1 is given a turn in proper direction so as to bring the points of connection of the rods with the said member in substantially a horizontal relation, the rods being by this movement forced. outwardly, so as to cause their outer ends to overlap the upper edges of the adjacent vertical walls of the body of the trunk, the said overlapping per, tions thus temporarily supporting the tray- Fig. 1. To close the tray, the member 1 is given a turn in proper direction (see arrow, Fig. 2,) to draw the rods inwardly a suflieient distance to cause their outer ends to come within the adjacent vertical walls of the trunk, Fig. 3, when the tray can be readily closed. In the form shown in Fig. 1 the pressure exerted 011 the rods 3 is substantially a vertical one, and the friction between their outer ends and the supporting edges of the trunk-walls is sufficient to overcome any tendency on the part of the rods to slip along said. ed e but in the case of a Wardrobe-tray T, w ere from an excessive load the danger of slippin is imminent, the supporting-walls are provided with metal castings 5, Fig. 8, in which are formed. suitable grooves or sockets 6 for receiving the rods. The walls of the sockets insure against any possible slipping of the rods.

I am aware that trunk-trays have been. provided with spring-actuated supports, but since these operate automatically upon the opening of the tray they look the tray when in such open position. Should the person using the trunk momentarily open the tray and forget about the automatic locking and then suddenly close the tray, the supportingrods either become strained or bent and become thereafter a source of annoyance. IVith my improvement the tray may be opened temporarily, and unless the person so desires he need not bring the supporting device into requisition and may close the tray without danger of breaking or bending the rods, since these cannot expand to a locking position unless positively actuated and only when occasion for their use arises.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combination with a swinging trunktray, a member rotatably mounted to the bottom of said trav adjacent to the rear edge thereof, rods pivotally. secured thereto at points diametrically opposite to one another and extending in opposite directions along said tray, suitable tubular bearings for the free ends of said rods secured to the tray, the ends of the rods being adapted to be forced outwardly and overlap the edges of the adj acent trunk-walls for an oscillation of the rotatable member in one direction, and to be retracted inwardly for an oscillation thereof in v the opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a swinging trunktray, a disk rotatably mounted to the bottom of the tray adjacent to the rear edge thereof, rods pivotally secured at their inner ends to the disk on opposite sides of the center thereof, guide bearings or. loops for the free ends of the rods carried by the tray, the upper edges of the vertical walls of the trunk adjacent to the outer ends of the rods being provided with sockets for the reception of said rods, the parts operating substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK L. DEMARTINI.

WVitnesses EMIL STAREK, MARY D. I/VHITOOMB.

Images