US2858016A - Memorandum paper tray - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 28, 1958 H, w MARANO 2,858,016

MEMORANDUM PAPER TRAY Filed Sept. 5, 1957 ATTORNEY United States Patent MEMORANDUM PAPER TRAY Herbert W. Marano, Summit, N. I., assigner to Wilson Jltnes Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Massac usetts Application September 5, 1957, Serial No. 682,118

6 Claims. (Cl. 206-73) The present invention relates generally to an improved receptacle, and in particular it relates to an improved desk-type tray for holding a stack of memo sheets.

The conventional desk-type memo tray is generally formed entirely of one material such as metal, plastic or wood, or other self-sustaining, rigid material, and as a result possesses the advantages as well as the disadvantages attendant such limited use of material. Thus, when the tray is fabricated of sheet metal, the numerous operations required in the shaping and assembly of the final article are costly and labor-consuming and the resulting tray is not only expensive but is highly unattractive. On the other hand, when the tray is made of plastic by injection molding, the molds are intricate and very expensive and the finished product, particularly where a rigid plastic is employed, possesses numerous points of weakness. Wooden trays are apt to be bulky or short lived.

It is thus a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved receptacle of the character described.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved desk tray for holding a stack of memo sheets.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved desk tray of simple, inexpensive and rugged construction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved desk tray characterized by its ease of production and assembly.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is an exploded perspective view yof one form of article constructed according to and embodying the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a longituidnal sectional view thereof in assembled condition.

In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of an improved receptacle comprising a base member including an upper inclined surface in a support plate having a rectangular aperture formed therein and provided with a lower leading edge and an upper trailing edge; a tray member registering with said aperture and having a rectangular base plate forming an angle with the plane of said aperture; said base plate having a leading edge abutting the leading edge of said aperture and being provided with an upwardly directed wall along its trailing edge confronting the trailing edge of said aperture; first locking means mounted along and projected forwardly of the leading edge of said base plate embracing opposite faces of said support plate and second locking means mounted on said upwardly directed wall embracing opposite faces of said support plate.

Referring now to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral ICC 10 generally designates a tray member, the numeral 12 a base member, and the numeral 14 a foot piece. The tray member 10 is preferably formed of a synthetic organic thermoplastic or thermosetting material, and includes a 'base plate 16 of generally rectangular configuration and provided with upstanding peripheral side walls 18 and a rear wall 20. Projecting inwardly from the leading edges 19 yof the side walls 18 are a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending panels 20 which are directly forward of the leading edge of base plate 16, the lower edges of panels 20 being coplanar with the top face of base plate 16. The space between theinner edges 21 of panels 20 defines an entrance into the tray from the front thereof for manipulation of stacked sheets therein by the forward edges thereof. Depending from the underface of base plate 16 are a pair of laterally spaced lugs 22 formed integrally with base plate 16 and projecting forwardly of the front edge thereof. Lugs 22 are spaced inwardly from the inner edges of panels 20 and are provided with upper faces which are substantially coplanar with the underface of base plate 16.

Formed on the outer face of rear wall `20 and integral therewith are a pair of upper, laterally spaced wedgeshaped protuberances 24 and a lower wedge-shaped protuberance 26. Each of protuberances 24, 24 is provided with an outwardly directed upwardly forwardly inclined cam surface 28, the lower edges of which terminate in coplanar flat surfaces 30. The lower protuberance 26, Yon the other hand, is provided with a downwardly inwardly directed cam surface 32 terminating at its upper part in a flat 34 which is slightly below the level of flats 3l) of upper protuberances 24.

Base 12 is preferably formed of sheet metal, and includes a forwardly downwardly inclined upper support plate 36 having a rectangular aperture 38 formed therein, the aperture 38 being provided with a forward edge 40 and a rear edge 42. Depending from the sides of the support plate 36 and connected thereto by a curved section are triangular skirts 44, the rear portions of which join a transversely extending arcuate section 46 extending downwardly from the rear portion of support plate 36. The lower edge of skirt 44 and the `curved section 46 are bent outwardly and shaped as at 48 to provide a finished edge. Projecting forwardly of the front section of the support plate 36 are a pair of laterally spaced curved members 50 having their concave faces upwardly directed to provide a holder for writing implements and having their lower faces lying in a substantially common horizontal plane with the lower edges of the skirts 44 and rear section 46.

Formed in each of the skirts 44 adjacent to the rear portions thereof is a U-shaped recess 52. A foot piece 54 registers with each of the recesses 52, the foot piece 54 being formed of a resilient material and having a cylindrical configuration terminating at its upper end in a rounded portion 56. A longitudinal groove 58 is formed in the wall of the foot piece 54 and extends over the top thereof, the border of recess 52 registering with the groove 58, the side walls of which tightly em- 'brace the opposite faces of the skirt 44 and the bases of which are under compression to effect a tight assembly of the foot pieces 54 to the skirts 44.

Tray 10 is secured to base 12 simply and easily by positioning lugs 22 below the front edge 40 of support -plate 36, sliding tray 10 forward until leading edge 40 is received between lugs 22 and panels 20, and pressing down upon the tray rear wall 20 until the lower, wedgeshaped protuberance 26 passes below the support plate 36 bordering recess rear edge 42.

In assembled condition, the front border 40 of recess 38 is tightly engaged between the underfaces of panels 20 and the upper faces of lugs 22. The rear border 42 of 3 recess 38 is tightly engaged between the confronting flat faces 30 and 34 respectively of protuberances 24 and 26. The tray base plate 16 is substantially horizontal, and its front edge abuts the recess edge 38, the top face thereof being substantially coplanar with the top face of the front border of the recess 38.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is ap* parent that numerous alterations and omissions may 4be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

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

l. An improved receptacle comprising a base member including an upper inclined support plate having a rectangular aperture formed therein provided with a lower leading edge and an upper trailing edge, a tray member registering with said aperture and having a rectangular base forming an angle with the plane of said aperture, said base having a leading edge abutting the leading edge of said aperture and being provided with an upwardly directed wall along its trailing edge confronting the trailing edge of said aperture, rst locking means mounted along and projected forwardly of the leading edge of said base and embracing opposite faces of said support plate, and second locking means mounted on said upwardly directed wall and embracing opposite faces of said support plate adjacent the trailing edge thereof.

2. An improved receptacle in accordance with claim l, wherein said rst locking means includes a pair of upright laterally spaced walls Vcarried by said base forward of the leading edge thereof, the underface of said walls being substantially coplanar with the top face of said base plate and a lug carried by and projecting forward of said base plate and having an upper face substantially coplanar with the underface of said base plate.

3. An improved receptacle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second locking means includes upper and lower wedge-shaped detents having oppositely upwardly and downwardly directed outer inclined cam surfaces respectively and spaced parallel surfaces which embrace the opposite faces of said support plate.

4. An improved receptacle in accordance with claim l, wher-:in said tray member base is substantially horizontal.

5 An improved receptacle in accordance with `claim l, including a skirt depending from the periphery of said support plate and terminating in a substantially horizontal plane.

6. An improved receptacle in accordance with claim 5, including recesses formed in the lower edges of said skirt land foot pieces registering with said recesses and having grooves formed therein embracing the edges of said recesses.

No references cited,

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