US3313451A - Article dispenser with yieldable wall discharge assistant - Google Patents

Description

Aprii H, 1967 w. H RHINDRESS ARTICLE DISPENSER WITH YIELDABLE WALL DISCHARGE ASSISTANT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1965 Wa/fer H Hhmdrws 1N VENTOR.

Apzrfl ill, 3%? w. H. RHlNDRESS 3,313,451

ARTICLE DISPENSER WITH YIELDABLE WALL DISCHARGE ASSISTANT Filed Oct. 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

Wa/fer H. Rhindmw INVENTOK United States Patent C) 3,313,451 ARTICLE DISPENSER WITH YIELDABLE WALL DISCHARGE ASSISTANT Walter H. Rhindress, ()cean Ridge, Fla. (121 Hancock St, Braintree, Mass. 02184) Filed Oct. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 493,175 9 Claims. c1. 22r 243 The instant invention is generally concerned with food warmers, and more particularly relates to a roll or biscuit warmer wherein the rolls can be selectively withdrawn, in substantially predetermined portions, while still maintaining the remaining rolls within the sealed warmer.

In addition, it is a significant object of the instant invention to provide a roll Warmer wherein specific provision is made so as to avoid any crushing of the rolls as they are being dispensed or removed.

Further, it is a significant object of the instant inven tion to provide a food warmer capable of storing and warming a substantial amount of rolls with the rolls, immediately prior to being removed, being subjected to the greatest amount of heat.

Also, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a food warmer wherein the internal construction is such so as to automatically position the rolls for dispensing through a sliding drawer.

Likewise, an important object of the instant invention is to provide a warmer incorporating two compartments for the storage and dispensing of different types of rolls.

Furthermore, it is considered a significant object of the instant invention to provide means whereby the number of rolls dispensed can be varied.

Basically, the warmer of the instant invention consists of a dual compartment closed container, each compartment having an enlarged lid closed upper end providing access to an upper storage chamber. This chamber contains downwardly and inwardly inclined peripheral directing walls so as to in effect funnel the rolls downwardly onto a sliding platform which is in turn releasably connected to a drawer within the lower part of the compartment. As the drawer is opened, or slid from the compartment, the platform is simultaneously drawn along with it so as to move a predetermined amount of rolls into a separation area, with these particular rolls subsequently being dropped into the subjacent drawer as the drawer is returned into the compartment. Upon again opening the drawer, the rolls therein are moved outward of the Warmer for removal therefrom while a subsequent number of rolls are introduced into the separation section. The drawer itself is releasably engaged with the platform so as to prevent any crushing of the rolls should a jamming of the platform occur as shall be discussed in more detail presently. Finally, any suitable heating element is to be located preferably immediately above the bottom wall of the container so as to provide the desired heating of the rolls.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the food warmer comprising the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view through the warmer illustrating the dual compartments;

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged partial crosssectional views through the food warmer taken substantially on line 3-3 in FIGURE 2 and illustrating various steps in the selective dispensing of the rolls;

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FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the drawer of the warmer; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the sliding tray portion of the warmer.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the food warmer of the instant invention, this food warmer being equally adaptable for many types of food, notwithstanding the fact that it has been specifically illustrated as containing rolls or heated buns.

The warmer itself includes a bottom 12, top 14, side walls 16, a back wall 18, a front wall 20, and an internal divider wall 22 extending centrally from front to rear so as to define dual compartments 24. The front wall 2%, as will be appreciated from FIGURE 1, includes a window 26 in the upper portion thereof so as to allow a viewing of the interior of both compartments 24. The top 14 consists of a pair of lids 28 hinged together over the divider wall 22 and selectively covering the two compartments 24. Each lid 28 includes a depending flange 30 on the three free edges thereof which seat on shoulders 32 about the upper ends of the Walls 16, 18 and 20 so as to provide a sealed closure.

The actual dispensing of the rolls 34 from each compartment 24 is through the lower portion of the front wall 20 below the window 26 by means of a sliding drawer 36, and a tray 38 selectively engaged with and movable with the drawer 36. The drawer 36, preferably rectangular in shape, is of a depth from front to rear equal to approximately one-half the depth of the corresponding compartment 24 and includes a forwardly projecting handle 40 which can be grasped when it is desired to pull the drawer outward. The tray 38, associated with each drawer 36 and slightly deeper than the drawer, includes a fiat perforated table-like portion 42 which overlays the back wall 44 of the drawer. In addition, the tray 38 has a full width depending forward flange 46 resting on the bottom 48 of the drawer 36, and a depending rear flange 50 resting on the floor 52 of the compartment 24 rearward of the drawer rear wall 44, both of these depending flanges 46 and 59 having the lower edges thereof curled so as to slide freely on their supporting surfaces. Fixed to the front face of the forward flange adjacent the lower edge thereof, and projecting forwardly therefrom, is a magnetic element 56. This magnetic element '56 aligns with a similar magnetic element 58 fixed to a central point on the inner face of the drawer bottom 48 in alignment therewith, the magnetic attraction between the elements 56 and 58 being such so as to fix the tray 38 to the drawer 36 for movement therewith under normal loading conditions as shall be described presently.

As will be best appreciated from FIGURES 3 and 4, it is intended that only a substantially predetermined number of rolls 34 be dispensed at any one time with these rolls being dispensed while generally maintaining the sealed condition of the warmer 10. Accordingly, a separator member or plate 60 is mounted on the interior of the front wall 2% fo vertical adjustment thereon. The plate 66 projects inwardly and downwardly above the drawer 36 and tray 33 and terminates in a rounded edge 62 which acts so as to separate the rolls 34 as the drawer 36 and tray 38 are drawn forwardly. In addition, a flap 63 is pivoted to the inner edge 65 of the plate 60 for movement from a vertical position, as indicated in FIGURE 3 and defined by a stop or abutment face 64, to the upwardly pivoted position of FIGURES 4 and 5. Thus, the plate 60 will pivot upwardly so as to allow free movement of the rolls forwardly into the separating chamber 66 while restricting their return upon a closing of the drawer and tray unit. The vertically adjustable nature of the plate 60 in each compartment 24 is effected by means of a pair of bolts 67, with mating nuts 68, extending through holes in the front wall portion of the compartment and through vertically elongated slots 69 in an integral vertical flange 70 on the corresponding plate 60. In this manner, when the plate 69 is to be vertically adjusted to accommodate a different size or quantity of rolls, the bolts 67 are loosened, the plate adjusted, and the bolts retightened.

With continuing reference to FIGURES 3 and 4, it will be noted that as the drawer 33 is pulled outward through the handle 40 the tray 38 is drawn along therewith, thus moving the rolls 34 resting on the forward portion of the tray tabletop 42 into selecting portion 66 of the compartment below the plate 66, the rounded edge 62 and the inclined plate 69 acting so as to separate a predetermined amount of the rolls that are moving forward. When the drawer 36 has been opened, the rolls previously located therein are easily accessible through the open top with the next bunch of rolls to be dispensed being located within the selecting chamber 66 adjacent the front wall 20. As the drawer 36, and consequently the tray 38, is returned into the warmer 10, rearward movement of the rolls on the tray top 42 is prevented both by the flap 63 and by the manner in which the upper rolls will normally slide or funnel down the inclined surfaces of the separator member 69 and the additional inclined plates 72 fixed to the side and rear walls of each compartment. It will be recognized from the drawings that the plates 72 terminate just above the tray top 42. Upon a return of the drawer 36 and tray 38, the selected rolls are allowed to drop into the forward portion of the drawer 36 forward of the depending front fiange -46 of the tray 38 as seen in FIGURE 3, thus providing another supply of rolls for dispensing upon an opening of the drawer 36.

The aforementioned selectively disengageable magnetic engagement between the drawer 36 and tray 38 is of particular significance in ensuring a proper dispensing of the rolls 34, notwithstanding a tendency for the rolls 34 to jam due to both variations in the actual sizes of the rolls and the free manner in which they are maintained within the upper portion of the compartment 64. This operation will be best appreciated from FIGURE wherein it will be noted that one roll 34' has been illustrated as being jammed between the front wall 24) and the front edge of the tray 38. However, when this occurs the slight increase in the pull necessary to continue the outward movement of the drawer 36 results in an immediate severing of the magnetic connection between the elements 56 and 58 prior to any serious crushing of the roll 34-. After the rolls have been removed from the extended drawer under the conditions illustrated in FIGURE 5, a return of this drawer 36 into the warmer will result in an automatic engagement between the elements 56 and 58 and a continuing operation of the dispensing of the rolls as described supra.

The actual heating of the rolls is preferably achieved through the provision of any suitable electric heating element 74 within the warmer between the bottom 12 and the floor 52, suitable insulation 76 of course also being provided as needed. As noted supra, in order to ensure a proper heating of the rolls 34, the table portion 42 of the tray 33 can have a plurality of heat-passing perforations therein as desired. By locating the heating element 74 within the bottom of the warmer 10, it will be appreciated that those rolls 34 to be immediately dispensed receive the greatest amount of heat immediately prior to being dispensed, particularly those rolls resting directly within the drawer 36. The heating element '74 will of course incorporate a suitable electrical wire or conductor (not illustrated), as well. as an externally mounted suitable combination switch and control.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a novel food warmer has been described, this food warmer incorporating unique means for the selective dispensing of a substantially predtermined number of rolls from either of two compartments while maintaining the generally sealed nature of the warmer so as to prevent the escape of the warm air. In addition, the warmer of the instant invention, as detailed supra, also provides for a dispensing of the rolls in a manner so as to avoid any danger of the roll being crushed or the dispensing drawer jamming thereby achieving a high degree of efficiency.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

'1. In a food warmer, a peripheral wall defining an enlarged interior compartment, drawer means slidably mounted within the lower portion of said compartment and selectively movable outward therefrom through a portion of said peripheral wall, means operably associated with said drawer means for introducing a substantially predetermined amount of food into said drawer means in response to an extension and subsequent retraction of said drawer means relative to said compartment, said drawer means including an open top communicating with the interior of said compartment, said means operatively associated with said drawer means including a tray overlying the inner portion of said drawer means, said tray being exposed to the interior of said compartment T and constituting in effect a movable support for the contained food whereby a forward movement of the tray, in response to a movement of the drawer means, results in a forward movement of the food supported thereon, and selectively severable means releasably engaging the tray with the drawer means for an independent outward movement of the drawer means upon the encountering of a resistance to an outward movement of the tray greater than a predetermined resistance.

2. A food warmer comprising an enlarged internal chamber, said chamber including an enlarged drawer selectively movable into and out of the lower portion thereof, said drawer having an open top communicating with the interior of said chamber, a fiat tray overlying the rear portion of said drawer, means selectively fixing said tray to said drawer for movement therewith, said means being selectively severable upon the encountering of a predetermined resistance to movement of said tray with said drawer, and separating means projecting inwardly of said chamber in spaced relation over the forward portion of said drawer so as to define a segregated section within said chamber to which food contained within said chamber can only be introduced by being carried on said tray moving in conjunction with said drawer.

3. A food warmer comprising an enlarged internal chamber, divider means dividing said chamber into two compartments, heating means for heating the contents of said chamber, each compartment including an enlarged drawer selectively movable into and out of the lower portion thereof, said drawer having an open top commnnicating with the interior of said compartment, a flat tray overlying the rear portion of said drawer, said tray projecting rearwardly beyond the rear of said drawer,

reans selectively fixing said tray to said drawer for movement therewith, said means being selectively severable upon the encountering of a predetermined resistance to movement of said tray with said drawer, and separating means projecting inwardly of said compartment in spaced relation over the forward portion of said drawer so as to define a segregated section within said compartment into which food contained within said compartment can only be introduced by being carried forward on said tray moving in conjunction with said drawer.

4. A food warmer including a top, a bottom and peripheral walls defining an enlarged interior compartment, means for providing access into the upper portion of said compartment, a drawer slidably mounted within the lower portion of said compartment and selectively movable outward therefrom through a portion of said peripheral walls, means operably associated with said drawer for introducing a substantially predetermined amount of food into said drawer in response to an extension and subsequent retraction of said drawer relative to said compartment, said drawer including an open top communicating Wit-h the interior of said compartment, said means operatively associated with said drawer including a tray overlying the inner portion of said drawer and projecting inwardly therefrom, means fixing said tray to said drawer for movement therewith, said tray being exposed to the interior of said compartment and constituting in effect a movable support for the contained food whereby a forward movement of the tray, in response to a movement of the drawer, results in a forward movement of the food supported thereon, and a separating member projecting inwardly of said Warmer in spaced relation over the forward portion of said drawer and providing, in conjunction with said drawer, a chamber of a size capable of accommodating only a substantially predetermined amount of food, said tray, upon the forward movement thereof, introducing food into said chamber for subsequent depositing into said drawer upon a retraction of said drawer into said compartment below said section, the means engaging the tray with the drawer being selectively severable upon the encountering of a resistance to an outward movement of the tray greater than a predetermined resistance.

5. The food warmer of claim 4 wherein said means engaging the tray with the drawer comprises a pair of mutually attractable magnetic elements, one mounted on the tray and one mounted on the drawer.

6. The food warmer of claim 4 including a heating element incorporated into the bottom thereof for heating the contents of the compartment, said tray including a plurality of perforations therein so as to allow for the passage of the heat therethrough.

7. The warmer of claim 6 wherein said compartment includes a plurality of inclined internal surfaces extending inwardly and downwardly from the walls thereof so as to centrally direct the food therein toward the tray.

8. The warmer of claim 7 including flap means mounted on and depending from the inner end of said separating member for retaining food within said chamber upon a retraction of the drawer and tray, said flap means having a normal vertical orientation and pivoting upwardly toward the portion of the Walls receiving the drawer upon an introduction of food into said chamber through an extension of said drawer and tray.

9. The warmer of claim 8 including means mounting said separating member for vertical adjustment so as to vary the size of the food receiving chamber.

References {Zited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 447,267 2/1891 Wood 221-256 X 1,315,416 9/1919 Rindfleisch 221-264 X 1,981,135 11/1934 Block 221*264 X 2,211,799 8/1940 Tatter 22 l248 2,576,874 11/1951 Acton 221-250 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,147,428 4/ 1963 Germany.

897,886 5/1962 Great Britain.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

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