US2880882A - Mechanically rotatable food server - Google Patents

Description

April 7, 1959 's. LIPKA I 2, 2

MECHANICALLY ROTATABLE FOOD SERVER Filed Feb. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 INVENTOR.

STEPHEN LIPKA ATTORNE Y April 7, 1959 s. LlPKA 2,

MECHANICALLY ROTATABLE FOOD SERVER I Filed Feb. 25, 1958 2"SheetsSheet 2 v INVENTOR. STEPHEN LIPK IIQM F 2,880,882 Patented Apr.-7, 1959 2,880,882 MECHANICALLY ROTATABLE FOOD SERVER Stephen Lipka, Melbourne, Fla. Application February 25, 1958, Serial No. 717,481

4 Claims. (Cl. 211 -77) 7 .This invention relates to a food dispensing or serving device.

The device contemplates a food dispensing device ,similar in part to the well known Lazy Susan wherein a plurality of receptacles is provided to hold articles of food and with the receptacles being divided by rib portions that have their upper surface recessed for the reception of cylindrical articles, such as drinking receptacles or the like and with the device being rotatable by crank means for convenience in disposing any selected receptacle or drinking container in convenient reach to an individual.

The device further contemplates a novel form of food dispenser having its major structural portions molded from plastic or the like in a convenient manner and with the parts being likewise assembled quickly and easily andv with-the device having a base portion that is adapted to be engaged with a flat smooth surface through the medium of suction cups to prevent shifting of the device while it is being rotated.

' Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters :p Figule'4 1S a fragmentaryside elevation of a portion .of; albase member showing a suction cup assembled nthereto,

Figure 5 is a section taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 4 and,

' Figure -6 is a fragmentary side elevation looking at the device along the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a base member in the form of a ring, having an upstanding side wall 6 and a lower inwardly directed horizontal flange 7. The wall 6 and the flange 7 are braced with respect to each other by preferably integral braces 8, equidistantly spaced around the inner circumference of the base 5 and whereby to form a relatively rigid supporting member. The side wall 6 is provided around its upper circumferential edge with a plurality of equidistantly spaced lugs 9, that constitutes the bearing surface for the food supporting member to be described. The flange 7 at diametrically opposite points is offset upwardly to form downwardly opening grooves 10, having upper wall portions 11, to which is fixedly supported rubber suction cups 12 and with the suction cups being disposed to extend slightly below the flange 7. Only two suction cups have been indicated, since they do nothing more than to support the base member and associated elements from shifting upon a usually glazed surface and it will be apparent, that when the device is pressed downwardly to engage the glazed surface, the suction cups will be substantially depressed into the grooves 10, having only sufficient frictional contact with the glazed surface. The base 5, including the base members 8 are preferably molded or die-formed from a suitable plastic. I

Adapted to override the base 5 concentric thereto is a food and drink holder, illustrated as a whole by the numeral 13. v This holder 13 is likewise molded or otherwise formed of plastic. The holder 13 comprises a circumferential flat flange 14 that has its marginal portion grooved upon its undersurface at 15 for overriding engagement with the several lugs 9 of the base. The lugs 9 thus, offer little resistance to the free turning of the member 13. The flange 14 intermediate its width is provided with equidistantly spaced slots 16, constituting gear teeth 17 throughout the circumference of the flange. The member 13 is provided with relatively large and equidistantly spaced recesses 18 and these recesses are separated by relatively wide ribs 19. The ribs 19 are provided with equidistantly spaced apart cylindrical recesses 20 for the reception of cylindrical containers 21, illus trated in dotted lines inFigure 3. Each of the recesses 18 and 20 are closed at their bottoms by a substantially continuous web 22. The axial center of the member 13 is molded in the form of a hub portion 23 that is suitably braced by integral webbing 24. The hub 23 is extended upwardly to form an upstanding cylindrical and preferably ornamented housing 25, having a closure cap 26 and a hand knob 27. The member 13, including the flange 14, the webbing forming the receptacles 18 and ribs 19 and the housing 25 are all molded integrally from plastic, while the cap 26 and the knob 27 are separately formed and assembled as shown. The cap 26 is provided with a circumferential undercut groove 28 that engages the upper marginal edge of the housing 25 in a snug manner. The cap 26, if desired, may be cemented to the upper end of the housing 25. The webbing forming the recesses 18 and the flange 14 are suitably braced at equidistantly spaced points throughout the circumference of the device, by diagonal and preferably integral braces 29. Means are provided to hold the receptacle 13 in its operative position with respect to the base 5, comprising preferably plastic brackets 30, that are cemented or otherwise connected with the outer surface of the wall 6 throughout the circumference of the device and with each of the brackets being provided with an overlying lip portion 31, that extends across the flange 14 for its major width and with the lips 31 having a slight clearance with the flange 14 for freedom of operation of the member 13, while holding the member 13 against disengagement with the base. Means are provided to mechanically rotate the member 13 with respect to the base 5, comprising a preferably plastic gear 32, having an integral shaft 33, that is journaled in a plastic bearing 34. The journal 34 is fixedly connected to the wall 6, by downwardly extending support 35 and with the support being preferably cemented to the wall 6. The shaft 33 extends beyond the journal 34 and its end portion is formed square, as shown at 36 for the reception of a hand crank 37, having a square socket 38, for engagement with the shaft. The journal 34 is provided with a semi-cylindrical flange 39, to which is engaged a cover 40. The flange 39 is provided with a rib 41, that engages a groove 42 formed Within the normally open end of the cover 40. The opposite side of the cover 40 is closed by a web 43. The cover extends downwardly to substantially cover the gear 32 and with the cover having a slight clearance with respect to the flange 14. The cover may be cemented or otherwise connected to the rib 41, for holding the same withrespect to the base. "'gaged with the journal 34 and then, with the gear engaged within the teeth 17, the bracket 35 is cemented imposition, rigidly supporting the gear and its shaft in operative relationship to thefiange14. The cover 40 'is'engaged with the flange 41 and preferably cemented in position. the square portion 36 and the shaft 33, The cap assem- 'tainers engaged within the cylindrical recesses 20. cylindrical containers 21 may be drinking containers,

combinations.

and has no parts that will corrode or rust. 'parts'as shown, have been designed to facilitate their against displacernent. The cover 40 also prevents food particles from entering between the teeth of the'gear 32 which incidentally, might conceivably interfere with the free engagement of the teeth with the slots 16. The

spacing of the teeth upon the gear 32 are in accordance position, the food holder 13 is placed in overlying coni centric relation to the base 5 and with the lugs 9 engaging the groove 15, accurately positioning the food holder 13 with respect to the base. The several brackets 30 arethen fixedly engaged with the wall 6, overlying the flange 14 to prevent displacement of the food'holder The gear has its shaften- The crank 37 is of'courseengaged wit-h bly 26 is then engaged with the upper edge of the housing 25 and the parts in such an assembled relation is now ready for operation. Desirable food elementsmay then be disposed in the large recesses 18 and cylindrical con- The suchbeing somewhat similar to the small holders for cream or the like and when used as milk holders for instance, encourages a child to drink milk, since they can easily hold the small containers, while objecting to drinking milk from a conventional tumbler. However, the

"recesses20 may be employed to hold' small jars of jelly, preserves or the like, when the device is being used for adult purposes. The device is then disposed upon a table or other flat surface and bodily shifted downward to cause the suction cups 12 to spread and create sufii present any desired recesses and its supported food articles to a point for convenient reach by either the child ora group of adults.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that a very novel form of food serving device has been provided.

The major structure is entirely formed from plastic in an economic manner and may embody various color The housing 25 may be ornamented in any desirable manner. The structure is easily cleaned All of the individual molding. The gear teeth 17, as defined by the slots 16 are only partially shown upon the flange 14; but it will be apparent that they extend entirelyaround "the flange so that the device can be rotated a full 360 degrees.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A food and drinkidispenser embodying in combination a ring-like plastic base having an upstanding side wall and a lower inwardly directed flange, a plastic food and drink receptacle of circular form that is supported upon the side wall of the base concentric thereto, upstanding lugs formed upon the upper marginal edge of the sidewall, the receptacle having a circumferential flange that overlies the side wall and with the last named flange being circumferentially grooved upon its underside to receive the lugs of the side wall, the fiange of the receptacle being provided with a plurality of radial slots and wherebyto form a gear rack, a plastic 'gear and a plastic journal carried by the sidewall and with the gear having meshing engagement with therack, a plastic crank for rotating the gear and whereby to rotate the receptacle upon the lugs, p'la's tic brackets carried bythe side wall and that overlie the flange of the 'rece'ptacle for maintaining the receptacle in riding engagement with the lugs, the receptacle beingprovided with a pluralityof relatively large cavities for'food articles and a plurality of relatively small cylindrical cavities for supporting the ribs, the several cavities having fiat bottoms that are in the same horizontal plane, thereceptacle having an integral upstanding cylindrical housing and a closure cap for the upper end of the housing.

3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the flange of the base and the side wall are provided with equidistantly spaced integral braces, the flange of "the receptacle and the walls of the cavities being provided with a plurality of integral braces, the said gear having a shaft thatis rotatable in the journal and a cover supported on the journal to fullyoverlie the gear.

4. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the flange of the base at diametrically opposite points is provided with downwardly facing suction cups.

References Cited inthe file of this patent

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