US2540392A - Luncheon tray - Google Patents

Description

f 1951 w. H. HASKELL $540,392

LUNCHEON TRAY Filed Aug. 11, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor: WILLIAM H. HASKELL,

Aiforneys.

Feb, 6, 1951 Filed Aug. 11, 1948 w. H. HASQKELL LUNCHEON TRAY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' lnv entorz WILLIAM H. HASKELL,

AHerneys.

Fh & 3.51 w. H. HASKELL 541,39

LUNCHEON TRAY Filed Aug. 11, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 34 IH' invenior:

', WILLEAM H. HASKELL,

L L E K s A H H W Feb, 9 H951 W N 0 m w Filed Aug. 11, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented F ch. 6, 1951 UNITED S TAT-ES PATENT OFFICE '.2,,540,392,

LUNCHEON TRAY William H..-Haskell, New London, Conn. Applicaiionfiugust 11, 1948; SerialNo. 43,609

This invention relates to new and useful improvements trays and adjustable mountings therefor and pertains par ti'cularly toaportable serving container and tray which maybe readily adjusted and secured to the back of the seatsof' Another feature of the invention isa tray and support there-for which may be easily and quickly removed from its place of use, closed u'p-and car-' ried away as a compact unit.

A further feature of the inventioniis a removable box and tray which, when not in use; may

be closedinto the general shape of a container or box having cooperating parts suchthat articles carried in said container will be tightly locked in place. Other features, objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringv the course of the following detailed description. In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a top'plan view of the container in open position;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of Figure l; Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the container in closed position and readyto becarried; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line -4--4 of Figure 1 but with the container in closed position; I Figure -5 is a part-ialsectional view taken along the line 5- 5 of Figure 3; 'Figure 6 isa partialsectional -view taken: almrg the line 6--6 of Figure 3; and g Figures 7 and 8 are two illustrations. of. the manner in which the container of'this invention may be adjustably mounted on and secured to seats having different inclinations.

Having more particular reference to FigureBof the'dr'awings, the improved container and tray comprises essentially a box or container element I, and adjustable base indicatedgenerally at 2 and a handle 3 whereby the box orcontainer may be carried and also adjusted and mounted in place as will be explainedhereinafter.

The container element I has two rigid walls including a rear wall ID, a bottom II, a front sloping panel I4, and a cover or closure I5. The bottom I I of the container element I is hinged at I6 to thefsloping side I4 and th tteris hinged. at I1. to the. top side o closure; I5. The purpose of hinge connections I'd-and 1'7 istozpermitithe folding of the parts as shown in Figures i3'ran'd' and the unfolding thereof as illustrated in Fi ures 1, 2, 7 and '8. .As shown in the several fig.- ures,the opposite ends are open.

A shallow removable tray or receptacle 'l'WiElf. glass, porcelain, plastic or the like is fitted/on. the bottom II and is provided with suitable sunken or depressed portions 13,20, 21,122,723 24 which are. adapted to receive various 'imples ments used in the partaking of meals 'andxrefreshments, such as'plates, cups, knives, forks, glasses, condiment containers, etc. Figures '2, i3 and 4 show a receptacle such as a drinking glass 25 in place in its depression 2 's in the removable tray I8.

The base '2 of the improved conta'iner, one-side of which is illustrated in section in Figure 5 has at each end a depending vertical wall 26 terminating in a flange '27, the function of which is to guide the sliding movements of a shelf 28-beneath the bottom II of the container 4. Thus, when the shelf 28 is pulled from its innermost or retracted position in Figure 4, to the extended position shown in Figure '2, it acts as asupport for the unfolded side it of the container and this side I4 may then be used as a table by theuserof the device. In order to limit the'outward. travel of the shelf '28 and for the additional pur-' pose of steadying the extended shelf, a U-s'haped' guiderod 29, suitably securedat 30 to a vertical ledge 3i depending from and beneath bottom'1I of the tray, provides a stop at 32 formed" by the ball of the guide rod 23 for the flange 33 of shelf 28. 'With reference to Figure 5, it will be seen that flange 2"! extends "on opposite sides of the vertical wall 26 and that it furtherpr'ovides guid ing surfaces for a U-shaped slidingmember 3 adapted to moveoutwardly from under bottom I I of the container in a direction opposite to that of the shelf 28. The "function of the sliding membei- 34 is to serve as; an adjustable abutment for the-tray'against the back 35 of a seat on which the device is adapted to be mounted.

Figures land 8 n of the drawings show how slide member-e4 may be moved to positions wherein it may engage seat backs having different inclinations. In order to maintain the sliding member 34 in its proper positions of adjustment, rack teeth 33 are provided on a fiat ledge or horizontal extension 31 of bottom II as illustrated in Figure 5. Pawl elements 38, pivotally carried by and movable with the slidei member 34, are adapted tdcooperate with rack tj'eeth 36 andthuskeepthe slide 34 in selected. positions against. thas'eat'backy 3 35. When it is desired to push slide 34 in the innermost position under the bottom I I shown in Figure 4, it is merely necessary to swing the pawls 38 upwardly so as to free them from the rack teeth 36 and to push the slide 34 inwardly beneath the bottom I I of the tray.

The handle 3 comprises the crook 39 having a threaded stem 39' rigidly secured thereto and depending therefrom. The stem 39' is adapted to be threaded through a lug 40 within the container I and secured to the back portion I thereof. The handle 3, through its threaded connection with the container, may be adjusted for height and its crook 39 fitted over or hooked onto the top of the seat back 35 as illustrated in the drawings.

When the device of the invention is not in use,

the parts are folded as shown in Figure 3 and I the handle is turned down within the container to a point where it will maintain the cover I5 in secure closed position. A suitable opening 40' is provided at the free edge of the cover I5 so as to permit the stem 39' of the handle 3 to extend therethrough when the device is closed. Similarly, an opening II is also provided through receptacle I8 to permit passage of the handle stem 39' when screwed down to its limit. When the device is closed as shown in Figure 3, the entire assembly may be carried by the handle crook 39. A rubber mat or pad 42, preferably of sponge rubber and of substantial thickness, is secured to the under side of the closure I5 so that when the device is closed it will resiliently press on the uppermost end of the glass or tumbler 25 carried within the container and maintain it in its proper position. This rubber mat will also assist in maintainin the handle in its closed position.

When the device is to be placed in use, the handle 3 is released by unscrewing it and is adjusted to the back 25 of the seat. The front panel I4 and the cover I5 are unfolded, the shelf 28 is pulled out to proper position; and the slide member 34 is pulled in the opposite direction until it engages the seat back 35. It is then looked in place by means of the ratchets and pivoting pawls 36, 38.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a portable servin container comprising a rear wall, a base, and a closure including a front wall and a top, a handle for said container, a tray carried by said base, said tray having depressions adapted to retain a receptacle, and resilient means carried by said top and adapted to rest upon and close the open end of the receptacle, said handle being adjustable to exert pressure upon said top and said resilient means to maintain the receptacle in fixed position.

2. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said resilient means consists of a rubber pad.

3. As an article of manufacture, a portable serving container comprising a rear wall, a base, and. a closure including a front wall and a top. a handle for said container, a tray carried by said base for supporting a receptacle, and resilient means carried by said top and adapted to rest upon and close the open end of the receptacle, said handle having a downwardly extending screw threaded stem adapted to be elevated or lowered with respect to said rear wall, said handle having a portion adapted to engage said top when the latter is in the closed position, whereby said handle is adjustable to exert pressure upon said top and said resilient means to maintain the receptacle in fixed position.

4. As an article of manufacture, a portable serving container comprising a rear wall, a base,

' a closure including a front wall and a top, a handle for said container, a tray carried by said base for supporting a receptacle, and resilient means carried by said top and adapted to rest upon the upper ,end of the receptacle, said handle being adjustable to exert pressure upon said top and said resilient means to press the latter upon the end of the receptacle and hold the same in fixed position.

5. As an article of manufacture, a portable serving container comprising a base adapted to support a beverage receptacle, a rear wall, and a closure including a front wall and a top, a handle for said container, and resilient means carried by said top and adapted to rest upon the upper end of the receptacle, said handle being adjustable to exert pressure upon said top and said resilient means to press the latter upon the upper end of the receptacle to hold the same in fixed position.

WILLIAM H. HASKELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

I UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 226,526 Lear et al. Apr. 13, 1880 623,468 Forbes Apr. 18,1899 1,306,591 Grant June 10, 1919 1,320,840 Campbell Nov. 4, 1919 1,336,776 Drinkwater Apr. 13, 1920 1,338,833 Kornsweet May 4, 1920 1,412,761 Tingstrom Apr. 11, 1922 1,593,834 McNeal et al. July 27, 1926 1,923,508 Ross Aug. 22, 1933 1,949,508 Woodall Mar. 6, 1934 1,964,500 Breiding et al. June 26, 1934 2,188,897 Hall Feb. 6, 1940 2,335,581 Cocanour Nov. 30, 1943. 2,435,103 Shreve Jan. 2'7, 1948 2,435,151 Morgan Jan. 2'7, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 306,65? Great Britain Feb. 28. 1929

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