US1603567A - Combined salt and pepper shaker - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 19 1926. 1,603,567

F. C. WlDMAFflN COMBINED SALT AND PEPPER SHAKER Filed May 26, 1924 Patented Oct. 19, 1926.

PATENT FRANK C. WIDMANN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

v COMBINED SALT AND PEPPER SHAKER.

Application filed May 26, 1924.

This invention relates to improvements n a combined salt and pepper shaker of the type set forth in my copending application, Serial No. 630,235 filed April 6, 1923. Briefly, the combined shaker common to that application and the present one comprises a container having a partition therein which divides it into two compartments, a perforated closure disposed across the top of the container, and a selective device cooperating with theolosure to permit the flow of one condiment to the exclusion of the other from the container.

The objects of this invention are to simplify and cheapen the construction set forth in the above application, and to obtain a selective device which may be more readily put in place and is less liable to inadvertent removal.

The means for carrying out the above objects will be fully set forth in the following description which pertains to the accompanying drawings. The essential features of this invention will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan of a combined salt and pepper shaker showing the normal position of the selective device for permitting the flow of salt therefrom; Fig. 2 is another plan showing the device in position to permit the fiow of pepper; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the correspondingly numbered line in Fig. 1; Flg. t is an elevation of a part of the container showing the manner in which the closure may be removed from the container; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the con tainer shown in Fig. 4: with a closure at 'tached to the container; Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 in Fig. 3; and Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the perforated closure apart from the container.

' I have illustrated my invention in con nection with a combined salt and pepper 7 shaker 10 which is provided with a partition 11 for dividing the container into two compartments as at 12 and 13.. A perforated closure 14; extends across the top of the container and has openings 15 and 16 therein with a rib 17 which separates the opening and abuts the partition to position the closure on the container.

To hold the closure in adjusted position, I may employ a frame having an inwardly extending flange 18 which engages the top of the closure and a downwardly extending Serial No. 715,941.

flange 19 which engages the sides of the container. ()ne side of the frame may have a recess 20 which is adapted to receive a projection 21 in the container, while the opposite side of the frame may have the flange extended downwardly as at 22 to cooperate with the locking mechanism which will be hereinafter described.

To permit selective operation of the con tainer, I employ a slide 25 having slotted openings 26 therein. These slots are so arranged that when the slide is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the openings 16 are uncovered and the openings 15 are closed. position shown in Fig. 2, the openings 16 are closed to the exclusion of the openings 15. To maintain the slide in close fittting engagement with the closure, I have shown a member, the ends of which are spaced as at 27, to engage the slide and the middle portion of which is shaped as at 28 to engage the arm 29 of the spring. This member is supported at 30 by the end of the lever 31 which in turn is pivotally mounted on a shaft 32. The arm 29 of the spring therefore functions to maintain the slide in close-fitting engagement with the closure.

To provide a simple arrangement of actuating mechanism and locking mechanism, I prefer to employ a spring having two intermediate reverse bends as at 35 and 36 through the latter of which the shaft 32 extends. The first-mentioned bend is in engagement with the lever 31 and functions to maintain the lever in the position shown in Fig. 3 wherein the openings 16 are exposed.

The inner end of the spring 37 functions to hold a latch 38 in engagement with a shoulmit the use of the spring mounted thereon.

The lever 31 is shown as positioned 'on the shaft-outside the ears 410 while the latch for locking the frame to the container is illustrated as having ears 11 which are disposed beyond the sides of the lever. The ears 11 may be turned laterally as at 12 so as to provide suitable surfaces on which pressure may be exerted for releasing the latch.

The arrangement thus described provides a single spring which has a three-fold fur-ction, namely to hold the slide in close-fitting engagement with the closure, to maintain the lever 31 in the outermost position, and

In the MPH to urge the latch into locking position.

the compartment 13 to the exclusion of the contents in the compartment 12, the user presses the lever 31 and thereby moves the slide 25 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown inFig. 2. This movement closes the openings 16 and uncovers the openings and thus permits the flow of condiment from the compartment 13 to the exclusion of that in the compartment 12, so long asthe lever 31 is held in this position. As soon as pressure on the lever is released, then. the spring urges the lever outwardly and thereby moves the slide to the original position as shown in Fig. 1.

lVhen it is desired to remove the closure for purposes .offilling the compartments, the user releases the latch from the shoulder 39 by pressing inwardly on the surfaces 42 against the tension. of the spring. When the latch is thus released, the frame and slide may be removed as a .unit from the container. The closure may thus be lifted from the top of the container.

From the foregoing description it will he evidentthat invention comprises a device which when attached to a combined salt and pepper shaker enables the use of one container for both condiments and permits the use of one condiment to the exclusion of the other. Moreover. the invention provides a device which may be readily locked to the container and easily removed therefrom for filling or cleansing purposes, but it is not liable to be inadvertently removed in the normal use of the article.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: v

1. In combination, a container, a closure therefor, a member removablyattached to the container for positioning the closure thereon, a lever pivotally mounted on the member, a slide for the closure and means carried by the lever for maintaining the plate in engagement with the closure and also moving the slide with reference to the closure.

2, In combination, a container, a closure therefor, a member engaging the closure for positioning it on the container, a lever pivotall v mounted on said member, a slide disposed above the closure, means pivoted on the lever for positioning the slide, and a spring engaging said means for positioning the slide independently of the lever.

3. In combination, a container, a closure therefor, a slide disposed above-the closure,

a lever extending downwardly along the side of the container, and means for pressing the slide downwardly onto the closure and for maintaining the lever in one position.

l. In combination, a container having a foraminous closure, a slide disposed above the closure, a lever for operating the slide, a latch for retaining the lever on the container and means for yieldably urging the slide lever and latch respectively in one direction.

5. In combination a container, a removable closure therefor, a frame engaging the closure for positioning it on the container, a slide disposed above the closure, yielding means engaging an intermediate region of the slide for holding it in snug engagement with the closure and a latch mounted on the frame forlocking it to the container.

6. In combination, a container, a closure therefor, a frame engaging the closure for positioning it on the container, a shaft supported by the frame, a slide disposed above the closure, a lever pivoted on the shaft and operatively connected to the slide, axlatch pivoted on the shaft and a single spring functioning to hold the latch in looking position, and pressing the slide downwardly onto close-fitting engagement with the clo sure.

7. In combination, a container, a closure therefor, a slide disposed above the closure, a shaft supported by the frame. a spring mounted on the shaft, means associated with one end of the spring for yieldably pressing the slide downwardly into engagement with the closure, and means associated with the other end of the spring for locking the frame to the container.

8. In combination, a container, a closure therefor, a frame engaging the closure for positioning it on the container, a slide disposed above the closure, a shaft journalled in the frame, independently movable levers mounted on the shaft, one of the levers providing a latch which functions to lock the frame to the container, means operatively connecting the other lever to the slide, and a spring mounted on the shaft and functioning to force the latch into locking position, and to maintain the slide in close-fitting engagement with the closure.

9. In combination, a container, a closure therefor, the container having a recess therein beneath the closure, a frame engaging the closure, a. latch mounted .on' the frame for locking the frame to the container, a lever pivoted to the frame,- a slide disposed above the closure and operatively connected to the lever, means for normally holding the lever out of the recess, said lever being adapted to enter the recess when moved against the force of said means, whereby the slide is moved with reference to the closure.

10, In combination, a container, a closure therefor, a frame for holding the closure on the container, a shaft journalled in the frame, levers mounted on the shaft, a slide disposed above the closure, a member carried by one of the levers and operatively connected to the slide, a leaf spring mounted on the shaft and having one end thereof functioning to urge the latch into locking position, and having the other end thereof cooperating With said means to hold the slide in snug engagement with the closure, said spring having return bends ,on the intermediate portions thereof, one of said bends embracing the shaft, and the other of said bends engaging the lever, to maintain the slide in a predetermined position.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

FRANK C. VVIDMANN.

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