US932319A - Mechanical waiter. - Google Patents

Description

C, G. PITTS. I

MECHANICAL WTBR. APPLICATION FILED mm1/190s.

932,31 9. Patented Aug. 249. 1909.,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. G. PITTS. MEGHANIGAL WAITBB.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1908.

Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNlTED STATESHlAlENT GFFICE.

CHARLES COFFIN PITTS, 0F BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSXGNOR TO MARY ALICE PITTS, 0F

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

MECHANICAL WAITER.

Specification o Letters Patent.

Application lcd August 17, 1908.

Serial No. 448,936.

T 0 all whom 'it may concern:

le known that l, Cimnrns Corrix Pierre, of Brockton, in the county or" Plymouth and State ot lilassachusetts, have invented certain lmprovements in lrlechanical TWeiters, ot which the following is a specification.

The object ot this invention is to tacilitate the i'illing oit orders given by guests in the dining rooms ot hotels and restaurants; and it consists in certain mechanical appliances the use ot which render it unnecessary in most cases, for the waiters in the dining room ton leave that apartment, thus saving the time usually consumed by waiters in passing from the place where the food is l red that where it is delivered to the guests.

lt is evident that such an apparatus will admit ot many changes in details of construction to adapt it to the particular use to which it to be applied, l shall therefore, 'in the description which Tfollows limit the same to the essential features of the invention, eliminating` all minor attachments designed for convenience only, and which would sugtheniselves to manufacturers and users to meet dilierent conditions round in establishments, and embrace in the claims only such combinations as are essential to the proper carrying out of the invention.

ln the further description of the said invention which follows, reference is made to the accompanying dra-wings forming a part hereof and in which,-

Tfigure l is a side elevation of the improved apparatus, and Fig. 2 an end view of the same, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow in F ig. l.

Referring now to the drawings l is a frame-work of any approved description which is erected in the dining room of the establishment, and supports in any suitable manner the table a, which is for a purpose hereinafter described.

Leading trom the trame-work l and placed in any suitable position with respect to thc same, is a. track 2 which terminates in the kitchen or where the food is prepared, or any place convenient thereto.

8 is a wheeled truck which is placed on the track 2 and adapted to traverse the saine, and thus serve as means of transportation of the various orders given by the guests in the dining room.

The means for propelling the truck on the track 2 may be of any suitable description but those which l prefer and in view of their simplicity appear to nie to be best adapted tor the purpose, consist of a system ci cords 5 and (3, the former being attached to the truck at and utter passing around a pulley 7 attached to some stationary object in the dining room, extends to the kitchen where it may be provided with a handle c. rEllis cord when pulled causes the truck to more if( ward or from the kitchen to the dining room. The other cord i3 is designed to ett'ect the return of the truck to the kitchen, and tor this purpose it is attached at (.7 to the truck. lt also may have a handle c. The truck is closed at the bottom and sides, and is open at the top in order that there will be no circulation oi` air through it to cool food inclosed therein in the manner hereinafter described.

l0 is a removable box adapted to fit loosely within the truck 3, which is provided with shelves f for dishes, and a door g whereby access to thecontents ot the box and shelves can be had after the removal of the box from easily accessible to the waiter in the dining room.

The table before briefly referred to, vis designed as a resting place for dishes and various articles taken from the box l() when the waiter is arranging the same to carry to the guests, by means of a tray; and for the sake ot convenience, thc box is in its elevation passed through the table which is provided with an opening 13 of suitable size which can be closed by a hinged door or shutter l5 when the box is within the truck and the cord l2 detached from the top of the box. The table may be fitted with many convenient appliances such as holders :tor matches and toothpicks but which are not shown as they would notcontribute to the patentability of the apparatus. Holders tor napkins are however shown in both tigures ot the drawings.

ine truck 3 is shown as provided with Patented Ano, 24, 1909.

lamps 17 which not only serve as illuminating devices, but add to the ornamentation of the apparatus.

In order that notice of the arrival of the laden truck to its proper position within the frame-work in the dining room mav be given to the kitchen attendants, a bell 19 in the kitchen or in any other suitable place is connected by a cord m to a hinged arm n in the dining room, and the bottom of the truck has a projection 0 which strikes the said arm and by deflecting it from a vertical line or position, sounds the bell.

To avoid the necessity of carrying beverages from the kitchen to the dining room, there is placed in the kitchen tanks for coffee, tea and chocolate, with pipes leading from them to the apparatus in the dining room, the said pipes being fitted with faucets, from which the beverages may be drawn. One tank only denoted by 20 is shown in the drawing, and its pipe is designated by p.

In the foregoing description I have shown only one apparatus but it is evident that several of such apparatus can be used and properly distributed in dining rooms where a great number of guests are served.

The manner of using the apparatus is as follows: A waiter on receipt of a written order from a guest deposits the same in the inclosed box in the truck, and upon giving a suitable signal to the kitchen the truck is drawn thereto and the order filled. The laden truck is then returned to the dining room in the manner before described, when it is unloaded and the various filled orders, if more than one, are in the box, distributed to the guests. Soiled dishes are returned to the kitchen in the same manner, and may accompany a new order.

I claim as my invention l. In a mechanical waiter, a frame-work, a table having an opening therein and which is supported by the frame-work, a track leading from the frame-work to a place where food is prepared, a truck with means to move the same backward and forward on the track, combined with a removable box wit-hin the truck, and means whereby the said box can be taken from the truck and elevated through the opening in the table to a position above the same, in order that its contents may be removed and distributed, substantially as specified.

2. In a mechanical waiter, a frame-work, a table supported by the frame-work, having therein an opening and a hinged shutter whereby the said opening can be closed, a track leading from the frame-work to a place where food is prepared, a truck adapted to traverse the track, a box fitted loosely in the truck and adapted to be elevated through the opening in the table to a position above the same, substantially as specied.

3. In a mechanical waiter, a frame-work, a table having therein an opening, a track leading from the frame-work, a truck adapted to traverse the track, which truck is closed except at the top, and a box having shelves, adapted to fit loosely-in the said truck, the said box having a top which serves as a lid for the truck when the box is within the truck, combined with means whereby the box can be elevated from the truck and the shelves therein made accessible for the removal of their contents, substantially as specified.

4. In a mechanical waiter, a frame-work, a table formed as a part of the frame-work, and having an opening therein, a track leading from a position directly in alinement with the opening in the table, a truck adapted to traverse the said track, a system of cords whereby a forward vand backward movement of the truck on the track is effected, alarm apparatus to indicate when the truck is directly under the opening in the table, a box to lit loosely within the truck, and means to elevate the box from the truck and bring it above the table all combined, substantially as specied.

CHARLES COFFIN PITTS.

lVitnesses EDGAR IV. SWIFT, ELMER H. FLETCHER.

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