US977185A - Crumb-tray. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

A. V. GREEN. i GRUMB TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1909.

AIVIOS V. GREEN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

CRUMB-TRAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

Application filed .Tune 19, 1909. Serial No. 503,132.

To all whom, it' may concern:

Be it known that I, AMos V. GREEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crumb-Trays; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of refer-l ence marked. thereon, which form a part of this specication.

My invention relates to improvements in crumb trays, my object being to provide a device adapted for use with one hand, which shall take the place of the knife and tray used in removing crumbs from the surface of a table.

My improved device is equipped with a. closure which is normally shut under the influence of a spring. This closure may be opened by pressing upon a button located adjacent the handle of the device, the pressure being exerted by the thumb of the hand which holds the tray. Within the body of the tray is located a sort of flange or ledge longitudinally disposed, behind which the crumbs are lodged and cannot escape from the receptacle of the device, except by turning it upside down, allowing them to pass out over the closure, which is then held open for the purpose.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing: Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view, but showing the closure or front lid in the open position. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section taken on the line 1f-4:, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modified form of construction. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing still another form of the device.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the body of the device which consists of a casing having a top part 6, a rear part 7, a bottom 8, and a forwardly projecting member 9, forming a continuation of the bottom, there being, however, a slight offset 1() between the member 9 and the bottom proper of the receptacle. The part 9, as shown in the drawing, extends forwardly from the closure or lid 12 when the latter is in the closed position. This lid is hinged to the forward edge of the top part of the receptacle, as shown at 13. At one end, being that adjacent the handle 4f of the device, the lid is equipped with an inwardly projecting part 14, having a slot 15 which is engaged by a lug 17, formed integral with an operating stem 18, which protrudes upwardly above the receptacle, at one end, as shown at 19. Outside of the body proper of the receptacle and at the handle extremity thereof, an auxiliary compartment 20 is formed, into which the stem protrudes, the inwardly protruding part 21 of the stem being formed hollow for the reception of a spiral spring 22, whose upper extremity engages the stem and whose lower extremity rests upon the bottom of the compartment 20. The oompartmen't 20 is separated from the body of the receptacle by a partition, having a slot 16, through which the lug 17 of the operating stem protrudes. As this slot is relatively narrow, there is little opportunity for dirt to enter the auxiliary compartment, which might interfere with the operation of the spring.

In the making of the device, a small plate 23 is employed to close the opening through which the stem is inserted. To the upper extremity of the stem is applied a button 24, having a threaded shank 25, whereby it is readily removable. l/Vhen the stem is originally applied to the device, being inserted through the opening in which the plate 23 is located, the button is removed. After the stem has been put in place with its part 19 extending above the body of the device, the button is applied. As shown in the drawing, the portion of the receptacle forming the compartment 2O is reinforced at the top as shown at 26, the reinforcement extending a s hort distance from the end of the device. From this reinforced part, the

handle 4; protrudes. As shown in the drawing, this handle extends in the same direction as the longest dimension of the body of the tray. It may, however, be attached in any suitable manner. Within the receptacle 5, just in the rear of the lid when closed, is a retaining flange or plate 27, whose lower edge is secured to the bottom of the receptacle and whose upper edge extends a short distance above the bottom whereby this plate prevents the crumbs from escaping from the tray, after kthey have been thrown to the rear thereof.

rlhe detailed description heretofore given, relates particularly to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. In Fig. 5, the construction is similar, except that the lid which is designated Q8 is hinged at the bottom of the device, as shown at 29, and a slotted plate 30 is attached to the upper part thereof. The slot 3l of this plate engages the lug 17 of the stem in the same manner as in the other form of construction. In the modified form shown in this view, the lid is opened by depressing the stem in the same manner as in the other form of construction. However, the lower edge of the lid moves downwardly to the dotted line position in Fig. 5, leaving a sutlicient space between the top of thetray and the upper edge of the lid for the crumbs to pass into the receptacle. In this form of the device, there is no occasion for the retaining plate or flange 27, shown in the other forms of construction, since the lid when in the open position performs the double function of a lid and a retaining plate or flange.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 6, there is a retaining plate or llange 32, located at the front of the receptacle, its lower edge being secured at the offset l0 at the bottom of the device. A relatively short lid 33 is hinged to the top of the tray, as shown at 34C. At the extremity of the device, adjacent the handle 35, the lid 33 is equipped with an upwardly projecting arm 36, which is provided with a sort of button or enlargement 37, conveniently arranged for outward pressure by the thumb of the hand which grasps the handle 35. Vhen the lid is thrown to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 6, the device is in condition for use.

From the foregoing description, the use of my improved device will be readily understood. In all forms of the device, the user grasps the handle with one hand and with the thumb of the same hand opens the lid which is normally closed. The tray is then held with its front member 9 in engagement with the surface from which the crumbs are to be removed and at any desired angle. After the crumbs are thrown upon the member 9, they may be thrown over into the body of the receptacle beyond the retaining flange 27, by tilting the forward edge of the device sufficiently for the purpose. This is true of all forms of the device.

When it is desired to remove the contents of the receptacle, it is simply turned over so that its bottom shall be uppermost, after which the lid is opened and the device tilted forwardly sutliciently to allow -its contents to roll out over the open lid. If necessary, the bottom of the device may be rapped with sufficient force to dislodge any material that may have a tendency to stick.

It must be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction herein set forth, since applicant is aware that many modifications may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims. It is also evident that the device may be employed as a dust-pan. In this form of the device, however, it would evidently be made considerably larger than where `it is intended for use as a crumb tray.

In order to facilitate the use of the device for the purpose stated, the forwardly protruding member 9 projects slightly beyond the body of the device at bot h ends whereby its front edge is slightly longer than the body of the receptacle, thus increasing to some extent the width of space cleared by the tray when in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A device of the class described, comprising a receptacle having a front opening, a hinged lid for closing the same, the said lid having an inwardly protruding slotted part, located at one extremity thereof, a spring actuated stem provided with a lug adapted to enter the slot of the inwardly projecting partl of the lid, whereby as the stem is pressed downwardly, the lid is thrown to the open position, substantially as described.

2. An article of the class described, comprising a receptacle having a hinged closure in front and an inwardly projecting bottom member extending beyond the closure, the device being provided with a retaining flange extending upwardly from the bottom thereof, a lid hinged to the top of the receptacle and having an inwardly protruding slotted part located at one extremity of the receptacle, a spring-actuated stem having one extremity externally located, while the other extremity is concealed within the device and equipped with a lug, which engages the slotted part connected with the lid for operating purposes, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a receptacle having an opening in the frontof the lid adapted to close said receptacle, and having an inwardly projecting partl located at one end of the receptacle, an auxiliary compartment located at one end of the receptacle and separated therefrom by a slotted partition, an operating stem protruding into the said compartment, a spring also located in the compartment and engaging the stem, the stem having a lug protruding through the slot of the partition,

and an operative connection between the said lug and 'the inwardly projecting part of the lid for the purpose set forth.

4. A crumb tray comprising a receptacle closed in the rear, but having a front opening, and a bottom member extending forwardly, a lid hinged to the forward part of the device and normally closing the opening, the lid having an inwardly projecting slotted part at one extremity, a spring actuated stem, provided with a lug mounted in the receptacle, the lug adapted to enter the slot of the inwardly projecting part of the lid, whereby as the stem is pressed downwardly, the lid is actuated for opening the same, substantially as described.

5. A crumb tray, comprising a crumb receptacle, having a front opening, and a normally projecting bottom portion, a crumb retaining plate or iange located in the receptacle rearwardly'of the projecting portion, a hinged closure occupying a position forwardly of the retaining plate, when in a closed position, the closure having an inwardly projecting slotted member, and means engaging the slotted member for opening the closure for receiving the material beyond the retaining plate, substantially as described.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a receptacle constituting the body part of the device, an auxiliary compartment located in one extremity of the device, and separated therefrom by a slotted partition, a pin having a part entering the said compartment, and being provided with a lug projecting through the slot in the partition, the body of the device having a hinged lid, provided with an inwardly projecting slotted part, the slot of the said part adapted to receive the lug of the stem, whereby when the stem is pressed downwardly against the tension of the spring, the lid is actuated to throw the same to the open position, substantially as described.

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

AMOS V. GREEN.

Witnesses:

A. J. OBRIEN, Jnssm HOBART.

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