US2097819A - Container - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 2, 1937.

L. P. LANSING CONTAINER Filed Nov. 12, 1934 lll lll-lll! I I I IWI gig/16 I I E2' .3 INVENTOR.

BY MVM/W ATTORNEYS YII-II of Figure 1; and

Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to containers and is particularly adapted to containers equipped with cooling or other heat exchange apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved device in which a plurality of articles or pieces of material maybe supported.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device in which a plurality of objects may be independently supported in spaced relation to each other.

Another Objectis to provide an improved device in Whichany one of a plurality of objects may easily be inserted and from which it may easily be removed. Y A

Another object is to provide an improved device in which a plurality of objects may be maintained at a desired temperature. r

Another object is to provide an improved device in which a pluralityof objects maybe maintained constantly in heat exchanging relation with a temperature controlling medium. j

Another object is to provide an improved device in which a plurality of objects may be constantly in heat exchanging relation with Va temperature controlling medium and in which the .medium will be insulated against heat exchange with the surrounding atmosphere. I p A Another object is to provide an improved device which may readily be opened at any point to permit access to any desired article therein.

Another object is to provide an improved device which will be simple in construction.

Another object is to provide an improved device which may easily be kept clean.

Another object is to provide an improved/device which will be rugged in construction.

Another object is to provide an improved device which will be economical in manufacture.

Other objects Will hereinafter appear. l

The invention will be better understood from the description of f one Vpractical embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which;v p i Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pan embodying the invention and adapted to the containing of squares or pats of butter; Y

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line Figure 3 is a plan View of parts of the apparatus of Figures l and 2;

The device illustrated consists of an outerbox or casing I which maybe ofwood, metal or any other desired material, and which is preferably provided with a 1'iller'2v of heat insulating material such as cork, asbestos or any other desired type, and with aV metal liner 3 sealed at its upper edges of the margin of the 'outer box,

A duct or pipe 4 leads from the space within the metal liner to the exterior` of the device and is provided with a drain cock 5 by which the flow of liquid through vthe duct may be controlled.

Arranged to be removably placed within the interior of the parts above described is a panlike rectangular container or receptacle consisting of an upper peripheral ange 6 provided with handles l, by which it may be removed from or placed within the box, depending sides 8 and ends 9 and a bottom I0 all of which may conveniently be formed of an integral piece of sheet metal.

The bottom of the pan has upwardly struck bosses I I, each provided with a central aperture, and arranged as shown most clearly in Figure 3 in two lines I2 and I3 extending lengthwise of the pan and in four lines I4, I5, I6, and I'I extending crosswise thereof for a purpose to be hereinafter described. It also has a plurality of perforations I8 which are not formed in bosses.

Inserted in the pan are a plurality of supporting plates or trays conveniently formed of sheet metal and of stepped cross section. These are shown as consisting of narrow upperand lower edge flanges I9, shelf-like flanges 20 at right angles thereto, and longer backing or supporting flanges 2| substantially parallel to the edge ilanges. The supporting plates or trays are placed within the pan in an inclined position, the upper flange I9 of the first tray resting against the end 9 of the pan and the lower flange I9 resting against the'lrst pairof the bosses Il of either Aoi" the rows extendingA longitudinally of the pan, as seen at the left hand side of Figures 1 and 2, or crosswise as seen at the right hand of these gures. The next tray has its upper iiange I9 bearing upon the rst plate adjacent the juncture of the uppermost supporting ange 2| and shelf 29. It will be obvious now that the distance between bosses is equal to that between trays when in their closest non-nested position.

The pan illustrated is twice as long interiorly as it is wide. A removable partition, consisting of a plate 22 having projecting lugs 23 provided with pins 24, may be positioned within it to divide it into two square compartments, the pins entering holes formed in flange 6 of the pan. Alternatively, the partition may be removed and the trays stacked from end to end of the pan, or in two groups extending from side to side thereof.

As soon as all the pieces B of butter are removed from one tray, this tray is turned over` and another is exposed.

The space beneath the bottom 9 of the pan and the liner 3 is filled with ice and water, the level of the water being maintained at about or slightly above the tops of the bosses Il, in actual practice being from one eighth to one quarter inch deep within the bottom of the pan. This level may bereduced, when necessary, by opening the Stop cock 5.

It will be apparent that the surface of this water is exposed only between the first lled tray and the last empty one, that is, for a space equivalent to that between centers of adjacent bosses ll, so that relatively little water surface is exposed for the transfer of heat.

It will also be apparent that as the lower edges of each of the trays extend into water, which is free to circulate through the openings in bosses l I and through openings I8 to the ice contained within the liner 3, heat will be readily conducted from these trays to the ice, maintaining the trays and the pieces of butter supported bythern at a low temperature, only'slightly above freezing. The maintaining of this temperature :is further aided by the cellular spaces provided by the trays about the pieces of butter, and which prevent the `air from circulating about the latter and so de- Ycrease heat 4lossesdue to convection.

'A largel quantity of butter can be prepared in advance of me'altimetand maintained in a cool condition, while-instantly ready for use, effect- Ying a great saving in time in restaurants,

cafeteras etc. As the .trays of one pan are exhausted, this pan'may be quicklyand easily removed and replaced by another, conserving time during the period of the mealtirne rush.

The Ypan and trays arereadily accessible so that 'they may be easilyV washed and maintained clean, vand are .of strong and easily fabricated shapes.

"The trays may be easily and compactly nested for shipping or storage.

Whiley I have described the illustrated embodiment of my. invention in some particularity, obviously many others will readily occur to those skilled in this art, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the precise details. shown and de- .scribed but claim as my invention all embodiments, variations and modifications thereof coming within the scope of the appended claims. Y

. I claim:

. .1....A container comprising an outer casing having an open top and a space therein containing a coolingymedium, an open topped receptacle With- -in'said container. and .having a foraminous bottom submerged. insaid cooling medium, and a plurality of trays. movably positioned within said YAlast mentioned container, therebeing abutments ,.upon thebottom of said receptacle .engaged by the lower edges of said trays.

2. .A container comprising an open vtopped .quadrilateral receptacle, a plurality of abutments extending along the bottom thereof, a plurality of. separate step-,shaped trayswithin the receptacle and having their bottom edges supported against laterakmovement by said abutments, the

:interior width-of the receptacle being an integral multiple of the length of said trays and the interior length ofthe receptacle being a different integralmultiple of the lengthv of said trays.

3. .A container comprising Van open topped quadrilateral receptacle, a plurality of abutments extending along the bottom thereof, a plurality of separate step-shaped trays within the receptacle and having their bottom edges supported against lateral movement by said abutments, the

Linterior width of the receptacle being an integral multiple of they length of said trays and the interior length of the receptacle being a different integral multiple of thelength of said trays, and a removable partition within said receptacledividing the interior of the receptacle into compartments whose length and Width are integral multiples of the length of the trays and locating means for said partition.

4. A container comprising an open topped quadrilateral receptacle, a plurality of abutments extending along the bottom thereof, a plurality of separate step-'shaped trays `within the receptacle and having their/bottom edges supported against lateral movement by said abutments, the interior width of the receptacle being an integral multiple of the length of said trays and the interior length of the receptacle being a different integral multiple of the length of said trays and a partition within said receptacle dividing' the interior of the receptacle into compartments whose length and width are integral multiples of the length of vthe trays.

5. A container comprising an open topped casing, a filler of heat insulating material therein, a water-tight liner within said ller, drainage means from the interior to the exterior of said casing, Valve'means associated therewith, a

y pan-like receptacle in said container and having apertured bosses in the bottom thereof, and

a plurality of step-shaped trays angularly set within the receptacle' and having their lower edges abutting said bosses.

6.v A container. comprising an open-topped receptacle, a plurality of separate removable supporting trays angularlyV movable therein, each tray being arranged to abut adjacent trays adjacent its top and between said abutting portions and its bottom to provide with an adjacent tray an enclosed .article containing space, and formedwithin said space into an article supportingsurface.

'7. A container comprising an open-topped receptacle having a substantially horizontal bottom provided with a series of .abutments, anda plu- -rality of separate supporting trays adapted to rest against each 4other adjacent their upper edges, and to engage with vtheir lower edges said abutments, and formed intermediate said upper and lower edges into an article supporting surface.

Aand having a foraminous bottom through which said medium may penetrate, and a plurality of separate supporting trays angularly movable in said receptacle and arranged to each have an edge submerged in said medium.

10. A container comprising an open-topped receptacle having a substantially horizontal bottom vprovided with a series of abutments, a plurality of separate supporting trays adapted to rest against each other adjacent their upper edges .and to engage with their lower edges said abutments, saidy trays intermediate said upper and lower edges lcomprising spaced substantially parallel surfaces, and means maintaining said trays in substantially parallel relationship with the trays extending substantially from the top to the bottom of 'the receptacle.

LOUIS P. LANSING.

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